Charles Morgan Conley

Charles Morgan Conley, 90, of Cleveland, Ohio passed away on Thursday January 30, 2025 at Elite Living Group Home in Waddell, Arizona. Predeceased by his wife Paula, Charles was the loving son of Raymond Walter and Ruby Ann Conley, brother of Raymond (Mary) Conley and Ruth (Dave) Breon, father of Michael (Lisa) Conley, Sharon (Rockford) Tyson, Christopher (Stephanie) Conley, and Deanna (Glenn) Guthrie. He was a loving grandfather to Jason, Laura and Brittney Conley, Adam and Julie Gluvna, Ethan and Evan Conley, Brandon and Brooke Guthrie, as well as great-grandfather to Hailey, Michael and Alex Conley, Rileigh and River Conley, Conner and Cassadee Lee.

Charles was born on January 21, 1935 at Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland. He attended Lakewood High School and joined the U.S. Armed Forces in February of 1954 at the age of 19. He became an MP officer (Military Police) and was Honorably Discharged on February 1, 1957 at the age of 22.

Charles loved police work and was employed for over 30 years by the Higbee Company (Dillard’s) in Cleveland, Ohio as Chief of Security. At the Higbee Company, he was bodyguard to celebrities such as Muhammed Ali, Dianne Carroll, Cindy Crawford, Bob Hope and Juliet Prowse at high profile Higbee fashion shows. He also worked as Head of Security for Notre Dame Women’s College in South Euclid, Ohio and Chase Bank in Peoria, Arizona.

Charles and his wife Paula retired and moved to Arizona in 2006. He enjoyed the natural beauty of the Sedona area, and took several trips to nearby Las Vegas. In his younger years, he loved the beach and boating, taking his Bayliner boat named “Adams Row” out on Rocky River and Lake Erie in Ohio. He also enjoyed the martial arts as a form of physical fitness, starting up his own martial arts studio in the Cleveland area for his clients and friends. He was a black belt in karate and trained police & federal marshals, plus women’s self-defense classes and take-downs. Charles loved spending time with his family, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. They were always his greatest joy in life. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.