Ray Gorden Conley - 1932-2008
Ray Gorden Conley died Monday, May 19, 2008, in Kings Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Ky., following a brave battle with cancer.
He was born in Boyd County, Ky., on Oct. 6, 1932, the second son of the late Golda Belle Hicks Conley and Gaylord Leo Conley. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Patricia Burns Conley, and his younger brother, Carl Edmond Conley. Gorden graduated from Boyd County High School with the Class of 1951. He received Jesus as his Savior in February 2007 and was baptized at Fairview Baptist Church.
Following the death of his wife in 1999, he began a monthly breakfast meeting with his classmates from BCHS, and for the following 10 years never missed a breakfast with them. He also met daily for breakfast with his friends at JJ Restaurant on Monday through Saturday and Dairy Queen on Sunday mornings. He never met a stranger and was a friend to everyone he came into contact with.
Gorden began working immediately following high school, driving a truck for Charlie Yates. After that, he worked for Zane Grey, installing gas pumps for service stations around the area. He began his career at Armco Steel as a laborer and then transferred to crane operator, where he stayed until his retirement in 1993. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and trapping in his young years and during his retirement.
Survivors include his daughter, Vicky Conley Crump, and her husband, Preston, of Ashland; his son, Greg Conley, and wife Kathy of Lexington; granddaughters Stacy Crump and Jennifer Messer of Ashland; grandsons Ryan and Tate Martin of Lexington; great-grandsons Braydon Ray and Konner Gregory Messer of Ashland; brother Ronald Conley and wife Flossie of Catlettsburg; his sister-in-law, Betty Ann Burns Craft of Ashland; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 22, 2008, at Fairview Baptist Church by the Rev. Michael Rice. Burial will be in Rose Hill Burial Park.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today, May 21, 2008, at Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland.
Friends may make contributions to the American Cancer Society, 4338 13th St., Ashland, KY 41102-5432.
Casket bearers will be Ed Abbott, Tom Fannin, Andy Kirk, Burley Stevens, Steve Wolfe, Ralph Clere, Cecil Burns and Herschel Robinson. Honorary casket bearers will be Bill Fultz and additional members of his high school class.
Condolences may be sent to www.steenfuneralhomes.com.
