Carole Jane Conley

Carole Jane (Merb) Conley, 82, Kokomo, formerly of Columbus, Indiana and Portsmouth, Ohio, passed away Thursday, January 23, 2020 at home with Dad, her children and brother from a short battle with cancer. Mom was born March 1, 1937 in Porsmouth, Ohio, the daughter of the late George and Mable (Kennard) Merb. On June 10, 1955 she married Dad, Roy Lee Conley, who survives. Mom graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1955. She was a stay at home mother until we relocated to Kokomo in 1973 from Columbus, Indiana. She then co-owned Van’s Craft and Hobby and went on to retire from So-Fro Fabrics in 1995. She loved sewing projects which made this job perfect for her. Mom was a member of First Christian Church, Kokomo. Mom was an avid bridge player with her best friend of over 40 years, Janice Chase, who preceded her in death in 2019. Mom also loved and enjoyed playing Mahjongg with her daughters and friends. She loved doing crafts and enjoyed card making along with jewelry making and basket weaving. Mom was involved in the Girl Scouts as a child and went on to become a Girl Scout leader to her 3 daughters while in Columbus, Indiana. Mom is survived by her husband Roy of 64 years, her four children: Vickie (Mark) Gumm, Brenda (Jeff) Shuck, Cathy (Garry) Gagnon, and Roger (Pam) Conley. Mom has nine grandchildren: Elizabeth Runyon (Stu), Anna Thomas, Ryan (Kim) Hester, Nicholas Hester (Alyssa), Holly (Carl) Olofsson, David (Sarah) Gagnon, Matthew (Heather) Gagnon, Ross (Ashley) Conley, Dawn (Brian) Jackson; along with 16 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother Roger (Connie) Merb, and a cousin Becky (Larry) Moore, who was like a sister to her. Mom is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Carole is preceded in death by her parents, George and Mable Merb, and a grandson, Corey Hester. Mom will be sadly missed by Dad, her loving dog Coco, children, family and friends. We want to thank everyone who has been part of mother’s life and made her life wonderful and fulfilling. She loved every one of you. We would also like to thank St. Vincent Hospice Services for the short but wonderful care you gave our mother in her final days. Visitation will be at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home, 2097 W. Alto Rd, Kokomo, on Monday, January 27th from 11 am to 1 pm, and a funeral service will follow at 1 pm with Rev Eric Brotheridge officiating; burial to follow in Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery.