Marie M. Conley, 82, of Centralia, Kansas, died Friday, March 14, 2003, at the Onaga Hospital. She was transferred there from Eastridge care home in Centralia where she had been a resident since December of 2000.

She was born June 16, 1920, on a farm east of Kelly, the second youngest of 14 children of John A. and Anna F. Schurman Heinen. She attended St. Bede’s School in Kelly. When she was young, she worked for area families helping out with newborns. She worked at Harsh Drug Store in Seneca before her marriage, and for a few years as a cook at Centralia schools after her children graduated from high school.

On May 4, 1946, she married Ivan Conley at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They lived east of Centralia where they farmed and ran a dairy. In the spring of 1953 they moved to a farm southwest of Centralia. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1996. Her husband Ivan preceded her in death on July 29, 1998. She was also preceded in death by an infant son, Harold, on January 4, 1947, and an infant daughter, Lori Ann, on December 9, 1963.

Besides her husband and children she was preceded in death by seven brothers, Henry, Jacob, Aloysius, George, Joseph, Edward, and Leonard; and four sisters Amelia Wilhelm, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Agnes Wilhelm, and Catherine Sextro.

She was a member of St. Patrick’s Church in Corning, a member and past president of the Altar Society, and taught CCD classes at the church. She was also a member of the Armstrong-Moyer Post #216 of the American Legion Auxiliary in Centralia where she had held various offices.

Survivors are four sons, Jerry Conley and Alan Conley, both of Havensville, Kansas, Howard Conley of Omaha, and Neil Conley of Wichita; three daughters, Margie Feldkamp of Centralia, Dorothy Henry and Lola Hower, both of Topeka; a sister, Susanna Huerter of Seneca; a brother, Raymond Heinen of Goff; 21 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Monday at St. Patrick’s Church in Corning. Burial will be at the Centralia Cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Sunday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for the Centralia EMT Association or St. Patrick’s Church, and sent in care of the family.