MILDRED GENEVA (RUSSELL) CONLEY

101, of Neoga, Illinois, formerly of Toledo and Charleston, Illinois, passed away at 11:50 A.M. Monday, April 29, 2013. She was born February 21, 1912, in Toledo, Illinois, the daughter of W. L. " Doc " and Cora Jane ( Andrus ) Russell. She attended the First and Second grade in Toledo, IL. Then her family moved to Charleston, IL in 1918 and she attended the grade school at Eastern Illinois Teacher's College, and graduated from the Teacher's College High School in 1919. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University of Charleston, IL. She taught in Maywood, Illinois and during the Depression years was a case worker in the Welfare Department in Charleston. She received her Masters Degree in Music from Columbia School Of Music. She taught music in grade school in Maywood and Arlington Heights, Illinois for 10 years and then taught in Winslow, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1946 she became administrator of the Medical Social Service Department at Clark County Hospital in Las Vegas for 10 years. She married Ret. Major Wilbur C. Conley of the United States Marine Corps., May of 1957. They lived in Chula Vista, California until his death April 6, 1966. She then moved to El Cajon, California in 1968 and back to Illinois in 1996. Mrs. Conley leaves two cousins, six great nieces and one nephew. She also leaves great friends Patty Murray and her family and Karen Schutte and her family. Mrs. Conley was preceded in death by three sisters, Gladys R. Haagen, Ethel R. Smith and Alice R. House; one brother, Lawrence (Larry) Russell. Mrs. Conley was a member of the Evangelical Bible Church of La Mesa, California, a member of the Alumni Association of Eastern Illinois University, Delta Kappa Music Sorority, Epsilon Zeta Alpha Sorority ( Philanthropic ) and Soroptimist International Association. She also held offices in the above mentioned Associations. She was also a member of the National and State retired Teachers Association. She moved to Carmi, Illinois in October of 1996, and them to Heartland Christian Village apartment in Neoga, Illinois, October 1, 1998. Following Mrs. Conley's instructions, a prayer will be given at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, May 1, 2013, in the Swengel - O'Dell Funeral Home of Neoga, with the Rev. James Maroon Officiating. Burial will follow in the Toledo Memorial Cemetery, Toledo, Illinois. IL. Online condolences may be expressed at swengel-odell.com

Service:

10:00 A.M., Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Prayer at Swengel - O

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