Conley Montgomery

Conley W. Montgomery died May 29, 2015, at home, peacefully, in his sleep.
He was born October 14, 1919 in Springfield, Illinois, to Conley W., Sr. and Della Mildred (Cheek) Montgomery.
Conley was preceded in death by his youngest son, Conley Douglas, in 1988, his beloved wife, Barbara I. (Dennis), in 2007, and his nephew/son, Timothy J. Shirley, in 2009. He is survived by son, James (Madison), daughter Judy Casey and son-in-law Paul Jeffery (Akron, OH), grandchildren, Stacy (Montgomery) Rhodes (Larry) (California), Shane (Alyssa) Casey (Colombia, South America); Michelle Montgomery (California) and Joshua (Bernadette) Casey (Minneapolis, MN); great grandchildren: Casey and Jake Kelliher (California); Eve, Jude and Zion Casey (Minneapolis) and Amari Casey (Colombia).
He served in the US Army/Air Force from 1942 to 1946 with one year at Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin where he returned following his discharge, believing the capitol city to be the perfect place to live and raise his family.
Conley built and managed Madison's first self-service laundry - the University Launderette 1949-1951, and owned and operated the Lindsay Soft Water franchise for 25 years prior to selling the business in 1985.
He retired from The Group Health Cooperative - HMO in 1985, after 10 years of employment in various executive capacities. Conley was a member of the founding committee, an incorporator, and treasurer from its inception in 1972 until joining the staff as Director of Development in 1974.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Member Central Lions 1949 to 1951.
Charter member Kiwanis Club Of Madison - West, 1959, serving as President in 1963. Served on the Board of Directors, Madison Service Clubs Counsel from 1964 through 1969, serving as president in 1965, and remained active in the organization for over fifty years.
Served as Treasurer of the Board Of Directors, The Community Action Commission 1966 - 1969, and as President of The Friends of CAC 1971 - 1972.
Member Of the Board Of Directors of Cooperative Services, Inc. from 1979 through 1985, serving as President 1984 - 1985.
Served as a member of the Founding Board Of Directors of Energy Services, Inc. and as the President and Chairman of the Board from its inception until his death. Energy Services honored Conley by naming their offices on S. Park Street, the C.W. Montgomery Center.
Conley was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Madison since 1948. He served on many commissions, boards and committees, and as President of the Methodist Men in 1964. Conley volunteered for many years as a food hauler for the Food Pantry of the church, and with his wife Barbara, drove many miles delivering Meals on Wheels.
Conley was a lifelong Progressive Democrat who was proud of his support of and relationships with many of the country's progressive leadership.
Although content with his Scotch - Irish - English antecedents, Conley was thrilled and pleased to discover in 1995 that one of his great-great-grandmother's was a full blood Cherokee.
Conley was particularly fond of the last stanza of William Cullen Bryant's poem "Thanatopsis". It was his guide for living.
"So live, that when by summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan that moves
To that mysterious realm, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
By an unfailing trust, approached Thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of this couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."
Family and friends are invited to a memorial service celebrating Conley's life at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2015.

Cress
Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
608-238-3434
Please share your memories at
www.CressFuneralService.com