Reta Bouse Manley, age 64, of New Albany, PA passed away on January 1, 2018 at the Robert Packer Hospital with her family by her side.

Reta was born on January 24, 1953 in Towanda, PA to the late George F. and Lola Franklin Bouse. She graduated from Wyalusing Valley High School with the class of 1970. Six weeks after graduation, Reta married her soul mate and best friend, W. David Manley, on July 25, 1970. Together they moved to Abilene, TX while Dave finished his service in the Air Force.

After Dave's duty was over, they returned to New Albany where she lived the rest of her life. She took great pride in her community. She made it a point brighten up her town by placing U.S. flags and banners, as well as planting flowers. Her influence in the community lead to her being named Mrs. New Albany in 1978, following in the footsteps of her beloved mother, Lola.

Reta was employed at the Medicine Shoppe in Dushore prior to she and Dave starting a family. While Wade and Natalie were young, she babysat a generation of New Albany children in her home. She was later employed at Fine Line Homes in both their Towanda and Sayre locations. She rose to become the Office Manager and worked there more than 32 years before retiring on February 1, 2017.

There was nothing she enjoyed more than participating in her children's lives and watching them grow. She was the den mother for her son's Cub Scout troop and was team mom for her son's baseball teams and her daughter's softball teams while Dave coached.

She was a member of St. Frances Xavier in Overton, PA and St. Basil's Church in Dushore, PA. She was a woman of GREAT faith. She volunteered as a Sunday school teacher with Dave for many years. Reta was a former co-chair for the Bradford County Relay for Life with her late sister, Jan Stoddard. She served as the tax collector for the New Albany borough. She enjoyed reading, watching movies, tending her flower garden, camping, and especially tailgating at Penn State games. She had tons of fun when she traveled with her sister Jan, Jan's husband Garn, and their great friends, Burf and Diane Broschart.

There was nothing that she enjoyed more family gatherings at the Bouse House, "The Home of Unconditional Love." She cherished the times she got to spend with her family and friends, especially her children and grandchildren. She was always most happy when her house was full. She never missed the grandchildren's sporting events, piano recitals, or any other activities the kids were involved in.

Reta is survived by her husband, Dave, of New Albany, PA; her children, Wade Manley and her Daughter-in-law, Jill, of Mechanicsburg, PA and Natalie Salsman and her Son-in-law, Todd of Wyalusing, PA; her grandchildren, Magdalen Marie Goodrich, Cooper Franklin Manley, Layla Helen Manley, Jordan Joseph Salsman, Danelle Marie Salsman, Nicholas David Salsman, and Connor Eugene Salsman; her siblings and spouses, Earl and Cindy Bailey Bouse of Cleveland, GA, Judi and Bill Looney of New Bloomfield, PA, Ike and Deb Bouse of Port Byron, NY, Lois and Ron Hugo of Laceyville, PA, Garn Lloyd Stoddard of Wyalusing, PA; her brother/sister-in-laws, Burt and Sheila Manley of New Albany, Bonnie and Mike Fox of New Albany, Joni and Brent Raupers of Florida, Dina and Neal Gallagher of Stroudsburg, PA; her blood sister Diane Broschart; her heart sisters, Susie Jackson, Wanda Cooley, Betty Jo Shults.

Reta is also survived by her Uncle Roy Leon Franklin and Aunt Nancy Smith both of Norwich, NY; as well as her nieces and nephews, Lisa McNamara, Adam Bouse, Brian Keefe, Kevin Keefe, Melissa Keefe, Annie Looney, Stacy McBride, Marcy Higley, Todd O'Conner, Chris Woods, Jeremy Woods, Julie Betz, Justin Bouse, Jenna Arneson, Tricia Porten, Taylor Bouse, Taylor Hugo, Nikki Pedro, Kristin Vasey, Casey Townsend, Karly Jones, Kelsy Peterson, and Keegan Peterson; and many great nieces/nephews and great-great nieces/nephews. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her father and mother-in-law, Walt and Helen Manley, her sister Jan Bouse-Stoddard, her nephew Bret James Keefe, and her nieces Nicole Ferris Keefe and Janice Looney Baumer.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Reta will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Basil's Church in Dushore with Father Richard Rojos of the church officiating. Family and friends may call at the Sheldon Funeral Home, 155 Church St., Wyalusing, PA on Friday, January 5, 2018 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bradford County Relay for Life, c/o Amy Huffman-PS Bank, P.O. Box 217, Wyalusing, PA 18853 or to the Bret J. Keefe Scholarship Fund (Fore 81), c/o Brian Keefe, 3299 Glase Road, Danielsville, PA 18038.

Online condolences may be made at www.sheldonfuneralhomes.com.