Obituary for Lester Conaway

Lester Thomas Conaway

(April 19, 1927 – March 21, 2017)

Lester Thomas “Les” Conaway died Tuesday morning, March 21, 2016, in the Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City at the age of 89 years.

Les Conaway was born on April 19, 1927, on the family farm near Deer Creek, Oklahoma, to Charles H. and Minnie (Reese) Conaway. He grew up Deer Creek and attended Deer Creek Public Schools graduating in 1945. He then entered the United States Navy where he was stationed in San Diego and Honolulu before World War II ended. Following his return to Kay County he attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva and later Northern Oklahoma Junior College in Tonkawa. He married Peggy Lou Richardson on July 17, 1949, in Blackwell and they made Blackwell their home. He worked briefly in the oilfield before beginning a thirty-nine year career with Kay Electric Cooperative where he worked as line superintendent and briefly as general manager. In 2009, he was invited and participated with the World War II flight to Washington, D.C. His wife preceded him in death on December 28, 2010, and he continued to make Blackwell his home. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Veteran of Foreign Wars where he served as post commander, Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, serving a term as president. He enjoyed bowling, golf, fishing and other lake activities with friends and family.

He is survived by his daughter, Lea Ann Bechtel and husband Brad of Blackwell; two sons, Steve Conaway and partner Marty McCord of Oklahoma City and Craig Conaway and wife Denise of Blackwell; six grandchildren, Crista Lombard, Kyle Conaway, Seth Conaway, Chad Bechtel, Blake Bechtel and Jordan Conaway; and fifteen great grandchildren, Ryann, Chase, Brynna, Adyson, Kyler, Ava, Haley, Elsa, Tegan, Ainsley, Emma, Gavin, Cole, Berkley and Graham.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Ned, Carson, Bob, Kenneth and Roy Conaway; three sisters, Viola Adams, Mary Reusser and Ruth Quillen; and a grandson, Brady Bechtel.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 25th in the First United Methodist Church in Blackwell with Rev. Cap McIlnay officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be his six grandchildren.

A memorial has been established in his honor with the Blackwell Public School Foundation in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.

The family will greet friends at the home of Brad and Lea Ann Bechtel on Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. one block east of Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home in Blackwell.