Christina Marie Manes (nee Uryasz), 1958-2024

She leaves behind her husband, Val, her mother Janet Uryasz, brothers Greg and Jeff and sister Lisa. She also leaves behind her beloved furry feline friends Dusty, Sandy, and especially Spooky Bear.

Since she was first able to hold a crayon, she was the consummate artist. So full of creative ideas, her art spanned traditional painting in oil and acrylic, to chalk pastels and most lately stitched beadwork. Dollhouse miniatures were another of her passions, creating furnishing and full room settings.

For the past two dozen years she was a star in the beading world. Her designs are loved by people literally around the world. When she first saw a small beaded bag, she thought there was no way she could make that. One lesson later and she was off and running designing bag after bag, and other beaded objects. When one of the national distributors sponsored a contest, she said, "I will win that," and she did. A few years later one of the Japanese bead makers sponsored a contest, with the prize being a trip to their factory in Hiroshima. She said, "I will win that," and she did, with a beautiful three dimensional beaded dragon.

It is her family's great sadness that her unique gift for artistic creativity and whimsy were cut short by her sudden illness. There is a line from "Behold – Ishtar" on her website that sums up Chris's spirit beautifully, "She was the most brilliant jewel flying high in the skies, roaming wherever the winds and the search for gleaming gems took her."

Chris enjoyed her travels in Europe during the nine years she and Val were stationed in Germany, visiting historic cities and small villages. She was especially happy to see many of the world's great works of art in museums in France, Germany and England. One highlight in their travels was seeing Pope John Paul II (the Polish Pope) at the Vatican. Because of her Polish ancestry, this was particularly meaningful event.

A remembrance will be held for family and friends at a catered event at Rapid City Golden Corral at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Battle Mountain Animal Shelter, https://www.battlemountainhumanesociety.org/donations/