Conn Edward Higley was born in Paul, ID on September 6, 1929 to Con W. and Clara Maude Perry Higley. He was the middle child of three sons.
Conn's biological father died when he was three years old. Later, when his mother remarried, Conn was raised by Lyle Lovell, a self-employed logger from Ahsahka, ID. He and his brothers spent the first part of their childhood with their maternal grandparents on their ranch outside of Lewiston, ID. The latter part of his childhood was spent in and around Orofino, ID on the Clearwater River.

During the Korean War Conn enlisted in the US Navy Seabees and was stationed in Guam and the Philippines. After an Honorable Discharge from the Navy in 1954, he moved to Kennewick, WA to be near his mother and brothers.

It was in Kennewick that he met and married his best friend, future business partner and wife, Lois. They lived in Kennewick from 1954 until 1961, while he attended Business College and worked heavy construction jobs. Between the years of 1961-65 Conn and Lois moved to Connell, and later on to Basin City where he was employed by and later owned a ready-mix concrete plant. As new farms of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project opened for development, he kept busy building and pouring new irrigation ditches for area farmers. Returning to Kennewick in 1965, Conn was self-employed as a general contractor in the Tri-Cities and surrounding communities. In 1968 he incorporated his general contractors business to include his son, Alan, and his wife, Lois, as office manager. They worked their general contractor business until their retirement in the late 90's. Before retiring, Conn and Lois traveled to Europe, The Holy Lands, and Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska and the 48 states. Arizona was one of their favorites to spend winter months. For several years they traveled to Puerto Rico during the Christmas holidays.

When more of their business contracts were located on the West side of Washington, their business base of operations moved from Pasco to Marysville in 1989. They moved back to Kennewick in 1998 when they retired to live in the spring and summer months; visiting Yuma, AZ in the winter and fall months. In 2002 they built a new house and permanently moved to Yuma. When Lois' health began to fail in spring 2004, Conn and Lois returned to Kennewick to be closer to family and friends.

Conn worked very hard all of his life, but he also enjoyed picnics, boating, walking, snowmobiling, traveling, and reading in his leisure time. Conn was also an excellent swimmer, with stories of Life Guard Duties in the Philippines, swimming feats in the Clearwater River and fun times in the family pool. Conn and Lois owned an old log cabin in the Blue Mountains and later a modern A-Frame cabin on Langdon Lake, where they liked to spend free time or holidays with friends and family or just the two of them alone in the mountains.

After his children were grown, Conn became a life time member of the Kennewick Masonic Lodge #153. As a Free and Accepted Mason, he became a member of the Scottish Rites, El Katif and Shriners. He also achieved his Masonic 32nd Degree.

Conn cared for Lois in their Kennewick home with the assistance of outside caregivers until March 2010 when she fell and broke her hip and was no longer able to walk. After surgery and convalescence, Lois moved to Callaway Gardens, a specialized care facility in Kennewick in May 2010. Conn joined Lois at Callaway Gardens in July 2010 when his health started to fail.

Lois died on August 17, 2013 from complications of Alzheimer's. Conn is survived by his youngest brother, George Bev Higley of Albany, OR. He is also survived by daughter, Marilyn Dwight Gottschalk, Richland, WA and; son, Alan Janet Souza Higley, Kennewick, WA. Conn has five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.