Lowell "Gene" Conley (Mansfield)'s Obituary
Lowell Eugene "Gene" Conley, son of Byron Veman and Opal Irene Hylton Conley, was born June 9, 1936 in Douglas County, Missouri and departed this life on June 19, 2014 at his home near Mansfield, Missouri at the age of seventy-eight years and ten days.
On March 29, 1958, he was united in marriage to Louise Elaine Harris and to this union one daughter was born.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Joyce Jones, Niece, Angela Brazeal Adamson; nephew, Doug Conley and a sister-in-law, Karen Conley.
Gene is survived by his wife, Louise of the home; daughter, Kathie Gleason and her husband, Ronnie of Macomb, Missouri; granddaughter, Carrie Burns and her husband Mark of Republic, Missouri; three great-grandchildren, Avery Gleason, Alexandria and Victoria Burns; two sisters, Lena Brazeal and her husband Bill and Linda Davis and her husband, Gerald all of Mansfield, Missouri; two brothers, Danny Conley and his wife, Janice of Seligman, Missouri and Bill Conley of Mtn Grove, Missouri, several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
He was born and raised in Douglas County between Mansfield and Ava and was a graduate of Ava High School in the Class of 1954. After graduating, he went to Iowa to work and then returned to Mansfield where he worked for Tobin-Hamilton Shoe Factory for a few years then for the Missouri Department of Transportation where he worked for 35 years before retiring.
Gene had attended Wolf Creek Freewill Baptist Church for many years and on January 11, 2014 he was saved at home and the next day he was baptized.
Gene had a lifelong passion for the banjo. At age 5, his dad gave him a banjo, and the rest is history. He played with several different bands and he played by ear. He and his brother Billy, played on the TV Ozarks Watch, and his music can be found in the Archives at Missouri State University. He tried to teach Carrie at age 5 how to play the banjo, but Carrie had her own way she wanted to do it and GEne would just laugh and when Avery turned 5, he tried to show her how to play the banjo, and Avery said, "I do it like this" and again Gene laughed. Gene and his family took a trip to Nashville where they found Earl Scruggs home. Earl invited them in and showed Gene some banjo licks on his banjo. Gene's style of playing sounded a lot like Earls. Earl played for Gene, then he asked Gene to play for him. Gene was so nervous, he said "I couldn't play a thing".
His family was very important to him. Spending time with Carrie and Avery was always a special time. Gene was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and accomplishments and will always cherish the many wonderful memories we had with him.
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