Margie Manner

Windsor, VT- Margie Manner passed away peacefully after a long illness at her home in Windsor, VT, on January 5, 2026. She was born on October 28, 1948, to Edna and Stanley Gearhart.

Margie’s warmth, adventurous spirit, and sense of humor helped her make friends easily wherever she went. She was enthusiastic, fun-loving, and up for anything—from going out for ice cream to taking a spur-of-the-moment road trip.

Margie grew up in South Sterling, PA, and graduated from Wallenpaupack High School in 1966. After high school, she worked in the insurance industry in Philadelphia before returning to the Poconos, where she worked at Buck Hill and learned to ski. As a young adult, she also learned to sail, embracing her lifelong love of adventure and the outdoors.

She became a member of the Big Pocono Ski Club, where she met William Manner. They married in 1979 and raised their daughter, Karey, in Swiftwater, PA. Margie shared her love of skiing and being on the water with her daughter through ski trips, time sailing at the family cabin, and boating on Lake Wallenpaupack—cherished memories and activities that have become lasting family traditions.

Margie was deeply artistic and creative. Over the years, she explored many forms of arts and crafts, from cake decorating to pottery, eventually focusing on stained glass. Her beautiful stained-glass pieces are treasured by family and friends. In later years, she took up knitting and found joy in creating handmade gifts for those she loved.

When her daughter began riding horses, Margie wholeheartedly embraced equestrian life and developed a deep love of horses. She enthusiastically attended horse shows, cared for horses, and volunteered with therapeutic riding programs and equestrian competitions. She worked as Office Manager for Equi-librium, a therapeutic riding organization that combined her love of horses with her desire to help others, until her retirement.

In 2016, Margie moved to Vermont to be closer to her daughter and found great joy in her role as a caring and playful Grammy to her granddaughter, Nora.

Family was always at the center of Margie’s life, and she deeply valued the bonds she shared with her family and her wide circle of friends. She is survived by her daughter, Karey Waters; son-in-law, Ben; granddaughter, Nora, of Perkinsville, VT; nieces Kim Simchak and Kelly Locklin and their families; her sister-in-law and brother, Lori and Dale Gearhart; and her former husband and close friend, William Manner, of Springfield, VT. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edna and Stanley Gearhart, and her brothers, David and John Gearhart. Margie will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

A celebration of life will be held in the Poconos this summer; details will be announced at a later date. Condolences may be shared in the online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Margie’s memory to the Equi-librium Program at www.equi-librium.org/donate or to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.