- Date Of Birth: June 20, 1923
- Date Of Death: February 6, 2013
- State: Missouri
Velma Marie Conaway, nee Cooksey, of Cherryville, Missouri passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 89 years, 7 months and 16 days. She was born June 20, 1923 in St. Louis, Missouri to Christopher and Clarice “Carrie” Ferguson Cooksey. On April 23, 1944 in Cherryville, Missouri Velma was united in marriage to Noel Edwin Conaway and to this union two sons and one daughter were born. Shortly after they were married, she and Noel were baptized at the First Christian Church in Salem, MO by Rev. L.O. Huitt. Noel preceded her in death in August of 1997.
Velma worked approximately twenty-four years as secretary for the Cherryville High School. She was a member of the St. James Christian Church and had taught Sunday school for several years along with being a member of the Keenager Group at church. She was very active in helping with the Crawford County Historical Book and had been involved for many years in collecting and researching her own family’s genealogy. She had handwritten many books of her family history. She was an avid reader, enjoyed embroidering and collecting recipes. Most of all she loved being with her family.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her two sons, Larry Conaway and wife Gloria of Claremore, OK and Kenneth Conaway and wife Diane of Brookline, MO; one daughter, Sharon Howdeshell and husband Henry of Cherryville, MO; two brothers, Irvin Cooksey and wife Thela of Salem, MO and Ira Cooksey and wife Mary of Galena, MO; two brothers in-law, Irvin Conaway and wife Mary of Cherryville, MO and Paul Conaway and wife Mildred of Cuba, MO; two sisters in-law, Loraine Brown of Owensville, MO and Mildred Conaway of Cherryville, MO; five grandchildren, Lisa Gardner and husband Troy, Dana Dunnavant and husband Doug, Jill Wooldridge and husband Scott, Clint Howdeshell and fiancee Leslie and Amy Ryno and husband Randy; ten great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Velma was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Clarence Cooksey and wife Loma, Lloyd Cooksey, and Floyd Cooksey; four sisters, Blanche Malone and husband Lona, Edna Hoffert and husband Fred, Virginia Melvin and Berniece Cooksey; brothers in-law Lawrence Conaway, Luther Conaway and wife Emilie; and two sisters in-law, Geneva Green and husband Clyde and Leo Brown.
The Family received friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Honored to be casket bearers were Gary Calkins, Richard Conaway, Randy Ryno, Clint Howdeshell, Brandon Howdeshell and Nathan Howdeshell.
