Obituary for William Neal Maner
In August 2021, William (Bill) Neal Maner lost his long struggle with cancer and related illnesses at the age of 59. Bill was the beloved son of James (Jim) and Jacqueline (Jackie; deceased) Maner, and sister to Robin Hertlein. He was Uncle Bill to Amanda, Michael and Elizabeth, and great-uncle to their children.
Bill graduated from Cascade High School in Everett, and attended the Burnley School of Art on Capitol Hill (which later became the Art Institute of Seattle) where he delved into his passion for the Fine Arts. He was soon hired by Ernst & Young as their first graphic designer, and eventually became design lead of a whole new practice in the firm. But the corporate world was not for Bill as he wanted to feed his artistic and entrepreneurial ways, which remained a constant throughout the rest of his days. He started the Seattle music-scene focused magazine “The Northwest Monthly,” and co-founded Cosmix Web Design in the earliest of days of the dot-com era, before settling into his beloved home on Whidbey Island. With partner Leanne Finlay, Bill opened the gourmet take-out and cabin accessories business ‘The Beach Cabin’ in Freeland, and later he worked with many small businesses throughout Island County with his graphic and web design.
Bill eventually moved to Bells Beach on South Whidbey to help his father at their long-time family home. He loved the whales that moved through Saratoga Passage, being on the water in his kayak, or simply enjoying the serenity sitting on the beach. Bill also loved to travel, taking numerous trips to Hawaii, the parks of the United States, Mexico, and Europe.
Although the last two years were especially challenging for Bill, with a couple lengthy hospital stays, he kept up with friends and family as best he could, and fought the good fight to the end. A private family service was held at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville. The family especially thanks Leanne Finlay for months and months of dedicated full-time support of Bill both in and out of the hospital.
Bill graduated from Cascade High School in Everett, and attended the Burnley School of Art on Capitol Hill (which later became the Art Institute of Seattle) where he delved into his passion for the Fine Arts. He was soon hired by Ernst & Young as their first graphic designer, and eventually became design lead of a whole new practice in the firm. But the corporate world was not for Bill as he wanted to feed his artistic and entrepreneurial ways, which remained a constant throughout the rest of his days. He started the Seattle music-scene focused magazine “The Northwest Monthly,” and co-founded Cosmix Web Design in the earliest of days of the dot-com era, before settling into his beloved home on Whidbey Island. With partner Leanne Finlay, Bill opened the gourmet take-out and cabin accessories business ‘The Beach Cabin’ in Freeland, and later he worked with many small businesses throughout Island County with his graphic and web design.
Bill eventually moved to Bells Beach on South Whidbey to help his father at their long-time family home. He loved the whales that moved through Saratoga Passage, being on the water in his kayak, or simply enjoying the serenity sitting on the beach. Bill also loved to travel, taking numerous trips to Hawaii, the parks of the United States, Mexico, and Europe.
Although the last two years were especially challenging for Bill, with a couple lengthy hospital stays, he kept up with friends and family as best he could, and fought the good fight to the end. A private family service was held at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville. The family especially thanks Leanne Finlay for months and months of dedicated full-time support of Bill both in and out of the hospital.