Spencer James Manwaring

Spencer James Manwaring was called back home to his Heavenly Father on December 1, 2019. 

Spencer was born May 5, 2010, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Spencer was born with a rare gene mutation called STXBP1, which brought with it Epilepsy and global delayment. Spencer never really allowed any one of those to keep him from the things he loved. 

Spencer was the perfect example of expressing love without words. Besides “Hey,” Spencer didn’t express his feelings through words, but through his eyes, he spoke volumes to those that interacted with him. Spencer had the most special smile that could win anyone over, coupled with his infectious desire to have fun drew many people to him, he had many fans. Spencer was most famous for getting you to look at him in the eye and then would steal food off your plate. 

Spencer loved to play with zippers of any kind, jump on one of his multiple trampolines, and if a home had a piano, he would spend hours banging on the keys. Spencer definitely walked to the beat of his own drum and rhythm. Spencer would use anything and everything to share that rhythm, whether it be the HVAC system, walls, or any surface that would carry a tone, he would bang on. It was one of the better systems of knowing where Spencer was. He loved all of his sound-making toys and was rarely seen without one in tow. 

We will miss him playing with our hands, waking us up at the crack of dawn, his infectious smile, and mostly the quiet Sacraments that we will have without him. I will miss the spirited drives I would take him on to give that sensory input that he loved to have and hearing his cackle around tight turns. In his short little life, Spencer taught us more than can ever be typed or documented. Our lives were shaped around Spencer, making sure he had his needs met, it will be hard to find what to fill that time with. What we will never have to say again though is “Where is Spencer?” We know he is with his Heavenly Father and Savior, and speaking to those who have passed before him and those that have yet to come to earth.

Spencer is survived by his parents, Benjamin and Kaylin Manwaring of Idaho Falls; brothers, Eli Gregg Manwaring and Isaac Benjamin Manwaring, both of Idaho Falls; sister, Emma Teresa Manwaring of Idaho Falls; grandparents, Gregg and Anna Manwaring of Idaho Falls; grandmother, Connie S Murdock of Idaho Falls; and great grandmother, Joyce Freidenberger of Idaho Falls. He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Frank James Murdock. 

We would like to thank Connections Therapy and Spencer’s therapists, Glenda Moe, Amber Benefiel, Jordan Stoddard, John Payne and Kelli Stewart. Special thanks to Summit Hills Elementary School and his fans there, Kendra Pincock, Bonnie Blad, Alaine Arnold, Mary Drowns, Marla Harris, and Kristy Bowen, the office staff, and his teachers, Chris Ralston and Nancy Farrer.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 5, 2019, at the Ammon 9th Ward, 4030 John Adams Parkway, with Bishop Jade Dye officiating. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 6:30-8 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road, and Thursday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Ririe-Shelton Cemetery.