Vaughn (Mac) Dale McManus of Vestal obituary

Vaughn (Mac) Dale McManus, 91, of Vestal, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday evening , March 1, 2026 with several loving and caring family members nearby.  He lived with Alzheimer’s Disease for many years.  He, and wife, Bonita (Bonnie) Ann Sorg had resided with their Daughter, Jennifer (Jen) and her family since September 2015 in Vestal, New York.

Vaughn was born on Sept. 17, 1934 in Metaline Falls, Washington to Martin Francis McManus and Bernice Pauline West.  His family left the beautiful and untamed mountain area of northern Washington where he was surrounded by most of this extended family lived and moved to  Boring, Oregon in the Portland area where he completed his school years  in the Cottrell Elementary (renamed “Cow Trail” by the students) and graduated from Sandy High School. 

At 17, he joined the Navy Reserves wanting to see and explore the world.  In his 27 year navy career, his tours took him on Submarines or ships in the Pacific and the Atlantic rising to Chief Petty Officer.  He lived in Japan & Thailand, and was stationed at Villafranche, France, Taipei, Taiwan, Sigonella base in Sicily, New York City, Chicago and the Pennsylvania State University (ROTC program) in the United States.  He married in 1962 while in New York City.  His family was able to travel with him the last 17 years of his navy career except for the one year when he was on an aircraft carrier.

He began his navy retirement in June of 1979 and Vaughn, his wife and 3 daughters settled in Scio, Oregon (20 miles from Salem) for 2 years.  He enjoyed his position at Oregon State University, Eugene Campus at the Student Union.  He wanted to show his family everything he could about Oregon and showed them the nature, plants, animals, the mountains, coast, rivers, fishing, the rocks and the people and friends and family from there.

Vaughn and his family then moved to Adamsville, Pennyslvania, to his wife’s childhood home to help with family.  The girls attended high school there, he found work with Northwest Job Training Program in 1981.  He later worked with the Monobloc can company in Wheatland, PA until he retired from that at age 65.  He continued working part-time with Warren Sorg Surveying, assisting his brother-in-law.  

In his spare time he and Bonnie enjoyed the freedom to travel and visit family and friends around the country and world. During his post Navy years, Vaughn enjoyed expanding his many hobbies and interests which included, gardening and becoming a Master Gardner,  rock hunting and collecting, polishing and cutting gemstones which he learned in Taiwan, getting his Associates degree in Wildlife Management at PSU and OSU, raising exotic birds and growing, collecting and showing orchids over the years.

Vaughn was involved in the community of Zions Reformed Church in Greenville and served as a Deacon, was a member of the Nation Orchid society, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, the Master Gardeners, participated in the Big Brother Program, became a girl scout  and always willing to help someone in need.

He always valued the times spent with his daughters, extended family and grandkids sharing his hobbies and supporting their interests.  He also appreciated his long time friends from his graduating class from Sandy High school along with new friends made along the way in the Navy and all the places he lived.

As a human, he was vibrant, kind, encouraging, hard working, accepting of all, compassionate, loyal, curious, social with everyone, rather Zen, a bit of story teller and happy to surprise anyone he met with silly pranks or quirky jokes to get a laugh or a smile.  He definitely was unique and not worried about conforming.  He was a devoted husband and father and just a good guy.  

Along with his wife, Bonita, Vaughn is survived by his daughters Heather Hettick and spouse, Kelly, of Creston, OH; Heidi Nangle and fiancé, Kevin Therrien of Bedford, NH; and Jennifer McManus and Christof Grewer of Vestal, NY.   Also surviving are 6 grandchildren: Jade Hettick, Alex Hettick, Paul Nangle and wife Kailey, Vaughn Nangle, Calvin Grewer and Josefine Grewer along with extended family in Spokane Washington area and out West.  Vaughn’s parents Martin and Bernice McManus of LaPine, OR and brother, Eugene of Ketchikan, Alaska passed before him.  He also leaves behind an aunt and cousins in the  Spokane Washington area.