Roy H. Conley

Roy H. Conley of Lorain, a member of the “Greatest Generation”, passed away peacefully at New Life Hospice Center in Lorain on December 12, 2023 after a sudden illness. He was born in Salyersville, Kentucky on August 1, 1928, and grew up in nearby Falcon, Kentucky. Mr. Conley had been a resident of Lorain since 1951.

Our dad attended the Falcon one room schoolhouse thru 8th grade before attending Salyersville High School. He was granted his diploma in 2003 due to military service.

Roy was a United States Army veteran and proudly served from 1946 – 1948 at Fort Richardson, Alaska. He was discharged with the rank of TEC 5 / Corporal.

He was employed by National Tube Steel (later United States Steel) in the Outside Shipping Department where he retired in 1985 with nearly 36 years of service. He then worked for Bob Morris Pontiac and Victory Chevrolet transporting cars for 11 years.

Dad was a 20 gallon blood donor. He enjoyed puzzles of all kinds and was a C.B. radio operator with the handle “The Old Termite”. He faithfully watched the Indian’s (sorry, that’s what he called them) Brown’s and Cavaliers play if at all possible and gave them great advise by talking / yelling to the T.V.

At the time of his death Roy was the oldest member in age of the Amherst Foursquare Church where he had been attending since 1959.

On May 9, 1959, he married the former Elizabeth “Betty” Rado and she preceded him in death on March 21, 2017 after 57 ½ years of marriage.

Surviving are his son and daughter-in-law, Joseph F. and Barbara (Knipper) Conley of Lorain; daughter Susan J. Mellen of Amherst and daughter and son-in-law Patricia A. and John McNamara of Sheffield Lake. Also he leaves five grandchildren: Maggie Conley, Adam Mellen, Andrew (Rachel) Mellen and Lauren and Joseph Cendrosky; three great-grandchildren.
Besides his wife he was preceded in death by his parents Jesse F. and Chrystal (Lemaster) Conley; and by brothers Ray W. Conley, John Henry Conley and Challis P. Conley.

Roy’s family received friends on Sunday, December 17th in the Richard J. Reidy Funeral Home, 1783 East 31st Street, South Lorain; and also on Monday, December 18th until time of services at Grow Point Church, 780 Cooper Foster Park Rd in Amherst. Roy’s cousin, Rev. Doug Tackett and his son Joseph F. Conley officiated. Burial followed at Elmwood Cemetery in Lorain with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers Dad requested donations be made in his name to Christmas Pretties Program at Alice Lloyd College, 100 Purpose Road, Pippa Passes, KY 41844 or to the Magoffin County Senior Citizens, 88 S. Church St, Salyersville, KY 41465

We, his children, would like to say “thank you” to the following physicians’ who allowed us to enjoy our Dad for so many years: Dr. Itri Eren, Dr. George Bescak, Dr. M. G. Salka, Dr. David Joyce and Dr. Alex Zolli along with the caring staff at New Life Hospice.