Obit: Conley, Eileen (1919 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Conley, Schuett, Smyth, Rebello, Barnes, Kurth, Pongratz, Riales, Vanguilder, Jackson, Betts, Peek, Keesler

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/15/2013

Conley, Eileen (12 October 1919 - 7 May 2013)

Eileen Conley, 93, of Granton died Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at the Neillsville Care and Rehabilitation Center, where she has resided for the past six years.

Eileen Smyth was born Oct. 12, 1919, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Francis Henry and Ida Augusta (Schuett) Smyth. When she was six weeks old, Eileen and her family moved to Lakewood, WI. She attended school in Lakewood and graduated from West Community High School in Chicago in 1937. She was united in marriage to Harold Conley May 2, 1941, in Aurora, IL on horseback. They moved to Lakewood that same year and farmed for the next 23 years, while raising their daughters, Donna and Patsy. In 1965, they moved to Florida and lived there until 1985 when they moved back to Wisconsin and resided in Granton. Harold died in 1988, and Eileen became more involved with helping with her grandchildren, which included babysitting, chauffeuring and cooking. March of 2007, she moved to Neillsville.

During her spare time, Eileen enjoyed reading, especially mystery romance novels. She also enjoyed gardening and traveling around the country.

She is survived by her daughters, Donna (Rich) Rebello of Eugene, OR, and Patsy Conley of Granton; four grandchildren, Tammy (John) Barnes, Travis (Stephanie) Kurth, Amie (William) Pongratz and Misty (Andy) Riales; 12 great-grandchildren, Samantha Barnes, Lawson Barnes, Tyler Vanguilder, Courtney Kurth, Olivia Kurth, William Pongratz, Jr., Dillon Pongratz, Cassidie Pongratz, Alexis Pongratz, Wyatt Riales, Alexa Riales and Alex Riales. Eileen is also survived by two sisters, Fran Jackson and Betty Betts, and a brother, Dan Smyth, all of Lakewood, along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; two sisters, June Peek and Micky Keesler; and a brother, Hugh Smyth.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 20, 2013 at the Lakewood Forest Cemetery in Lakewood.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Eileen’s family with funeral arrangements.