Obituary for Lawrence Fyfe Conley (Larry)

Larry passed from this life on Tuesday, February 10, 2015, with his daughter holding his hand while gospel music was playing in his room at Rosetta Assisted Living Facility in Richland, Washington.

Larry was born the first of 13 children in 1924 to William and Hilda Conley on Block Island, Rhode Island.

At the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and bravely served his country in the South Pacific during World War II. 

Larry met his wife, Kathaline Bennett, in San Francisco, California, and they were married a short time later in Reno, Nevada.

Larry and Kathaline lived in many places such as Rhode Island, Florida, Montana, Oregon, and finally settled in Richland, Washington, on their daughter Christine's 2^nd birthday in 1958.

Larry had several occupations throughout his life.  He worked as a millwright during the construction of several of the Columbia River Dam projects.  He worked in the fruit industry in the Hood River/The Dalles, Oregon, area.  Larry was then hired on at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation as a millwright where he eventually retired from Battelle Northwest/PNNL.

Larry was gifted with a great sense of humor.  He loved singing and sang in the church choir for many years.  He also was a talented artist and used to draw sketches of cartoon characters.  Larry enjoyed working with wood, and was famous for his hand-crafted baby cradles, many of which were gifted to his children and grandchildren.  Another beloved past-time was fly fishing.  He spent many hours trout fishing along the banks and in the icy waters of Ross Creek in Montana.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Rosetta Assisted Living for their kind and loving care of Larry, aka “Grandpa”, for the past three years, and most recently Heartlinks Hospice.

Larry is survived by his wife Kathaline; his daughters Linda (John) Seifert, Laurie (Kevin) Lucke, and Chris (Eric) Stephan; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

 A military honors inurnment service will be held at a later date this Spring.