Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Friends and Neighbors: Becky Mannon

"I was invited to go to London", exclaimed Kimball's newest author, "well, not me personally – but, my little bear book."

Mannon's creation, "IF ONLY BEARS COULD TALK: Teddy Bear Tales from the Heart" was written to share her love of her hobby and to share the heart-warming memories of her journey in the art of creating these one of a kind, handmade bears.

Born and raised in Kimball, Mannon, a lifelong Kimball resident graduated from Kimball High School in 1974.

She and her husband, Steve, have celebrated 43 years of marriage, during which they share space in their family-owned shop on Webster street, where Becky stays busy creating her bears and Steve refurbishes cars for customers.

Mannon added that they get along great as co-workers and even help each other with projects.

"I would like to dedicate my book to my wonderful husband Steve" reads the beginning page of the little bear book, "who has always been by my side, no matter what."

For the last two decades Mannon has made her bears, first as a hobby using felt and putting her heart into every one of them.

She states that when her one-of-a-kind bears grew in popularity, she went from using felt to using a higher grade mohair in fashioning her bears, and only using top quality items for every element such as the German-made eyes.

Also with the growing popularity of the handmade bears Mannon began taking her family on side trips to shows, the first being in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

From the beginning of her bear-journey to present time, Mannon estimates that she has made well over 500 bears and adds that this journey has given her some really wonderful memories, which she offers along with Bible verses, to warm the hearts of readers.

Memories play a pivotal role in Mannon's book, and the little well-played-with-one-eyed bear featured on the front cover once belonged to her brother, Doug, who passed away. When found in his items, his children thought it fitting that she should have the little bear for her collection.

Her father, Carl, who passed away eight years ago, was her biggest fan and encouraged her from the beginning to start the "memory bears" by offering her the jacket in which he courted her mother, Marlene. Her dad's bear is now one of her favorite bears in her collection, along with the bear that represents her mother.

She hopes to continue her passion of bear making for many years to come, as well as providing inspiration through her new book.

"IF ONLY BEARS COULD TALK: Teddy Bear Tales from the Heart" can be purchased at Becky's shop located on Webster, at Larson's Jewelry Store and on Amazon.com.