She led the River Forest school district from 1992-2000
Dr. Tyra Manning, 78, died on July 6, 2025 following an 18-year battle with cancer. A lifelong educator, author, adventurer and artist, she dedicated her life to the advancement of others through learning, connecting and sharing stories that showcased our shared humanity. She inspired many over the course of her life.
Born on June 4, 1947 in Brownfield, Texas, the daughter of Clifton Henry Decker and Dorothy Faye (Sexton) Decker, she was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Cliff Rodney Decker.
She faced her share of sorrow. Her husband and soulmate, 1st Lt. James Larry Hull, an elite Air Force pilot, was killed in 1971 while on a secret mission in Laos during the Vietnam War. His remains were not repatriated to the United States until 2006 when he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors at a ceremony attended by many of Tyra’s closest family and community friends.
At an early age, she lost her father, and as a young woman she struggled with substance abuse, mental illness and grief following the tragic death of her husband. But she was tenacious in her work ethic and prevailed over those demons to become a nationally recognized educator, administrator, and mentor.
She earned her doctorate in educational administration from the University of Kansas, and served as the River Forest District 90 superintendent from 1992 to 2000, where she was a well-known community leader. She was awarded the Excellence in Learning and Leadership Award from Concordia University and named Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa by Dominican University. As an administrator, she was a fierce advocate for her teachers while never losing sight of the need for students to be treated with compassion and empathy.
Following her retirement, she embraced a new career as an author, motivational speaker and blogger. Her two books, Where the Water Meets the Sand and Your Turn, were winners of the Independent Book Publisher’s (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Gold Award. Her first book was autobiographical; her second book served as a guidebook for readers to document their own life stories as a means of self-reflection, healing and transformation. She was always an ardent advocate for destigmatizing mental illness and encouraged those suffering to seek treatment.
Later in life she authored a popular weekly blog that attracted thousands of followers, tackling a wide range of topics, including pop culture, art, music, politics and stories about the people who influenced her life, and those with whom she connected.
Fiercely loyal to her West Texan roots, she had a uniquely American independent spirit. Equipped with a wicked sense of humor, she had the uncanny ability to light up a room with her intellect, charm and winning personality. She commanded respect and always treated those around her with dignity, even if she disagreed with them. She was a progressive thinker, always seeking to bring together people of diverse socio-economic backgrounds, races, creeds, and political ideologies under her mantra that the things we share in common as human beings far outweigh our differences.
An inspiration for many, she will be greatly missed. Her legacy lives on through her books and her encouragements to others to share their own stories about our respective human journeys.
Tyra Manning is survived by her daughter, Laura Hull; her sister, Ina Beth Lane; her sister-in-law, Jolene Julian; her brother-in-law, Larry Lane; and many nieces and nephews.
Her final resting place will be Arlington National Cemetery with her husband, Larry.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to MD Anderson Cancer Center (https://www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate/honor-loved-ones.html) or the Veterans Association of America Inc.