Jimmy Nelson Conger

Jimmy Nelson Conger was born at home on his family's farm in Chicamauga, Georgia on November 13, 1938. He happily lived there until age 9. He enjoyed spending all day exploring the forests around the farm and playing on Civil War canons and monuments. He walked miles to school barefoot and because his grandmother taught him to read when he was very little, he started school in the second grade.

Then his father moved the family from Georgia to Los Angeles, California. Jimmy had to adjust to a very different life and he learned he had to fight so bullies wouldn't steal his milk money every day. He actively worked on losing his Georgian accent and learned Spanish instead. He wore shoes. He adapted, but he always missed Georgia.

He graduated from high school early and at 17 he joined the Navy and while stationed in the northeast, he met Marilynn and the day after he turned 19, they got married. In 1958 after Navy days were served, they together returned to L.A. and made a home there.

It was the 50's, times were good and full of activity. Marilynn worked for the IRS and in 1963, Jim became a police officer and a little later a traffic cop. He loved motorcycles and had several Harleys, so this didn't even feel like work because he got to be on a motorcycle all day.

Somehow he found the time to be a pilot and fly his own plane, play accordion in a band, he was a ham radio operator, build his own observatory in his backyard, was an astronomer, and would stay up all night observing the stars, was a consultant for Baush & Lomb, was an avid reader, and earned a degree in Psychology, was an excellent cook , an inventor, and designer and remodeled many bikes, RV's, houses, planes, and cars. He was always busy creating and inventing what he wanted his life to be.

In 1986 he had a terrible motorcycle accident that almost took his life. He survived but it changed his life as he knew it. He retired from the Police Department in 1989.

He and Marilynn left Los Angeles in 1993 and retired to Brookings, Oregon. In 1996, Marilynn died and a year and a half later he met Jerry, who became his second wife. They bought a motorhome and traveled the Western states. They were together 27 years enjoying a quieter, more peaceful life and loved and supported each other every day.

On March 27, 2025 he was diagnosed with acute lung cancer and on May 3, 2025, he left this world with Jerry holding his hand.

Jim was grateful for his full life and all his blessings. He leaves behind his wife Jerry, brother Raymond of Los Vegas, and two step daughters, in-laws, and friends who will all miss him terribly.

There will be a service held at the Smith River in Montana.

"It was God's will, therefore it can be nothing but loving and good."

Written by Jim