Conway, Irene M. ( Mrs. John)1921-2013

CONWAY, TAYLOR, KERBY

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/1/2013 at 17:47:26

Irene M. Conway
January 22, 1921 - March 18, 2013
Irene Conway, 92, was given her first glimpse of heaven on Monday, March 18, 2013, at Happy Siesta Care Center in Remsen, Iowa.
There will be a funeral service on Thursday, March 21 at 10:00 am, at the Dover Avenue Alliance Church in Orange City. The Rev. Jeffrey Keady and the Rev. Tom Shaw will officiate. Interment will follow at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City.

Irene Mildred Taylor was born on Jan. 22, 1921 to Louis and Mildred (Kerby) Taylor in Pueblo, CO. Her father was a railroad boilermaker, and the family made many moves following his work. Irene spent her childhood years in many locations, most memorably in a small mining town in Nevada among an extremely diverse population, resulting in an early and colorful education in life.

In 1936 Irene’s family moved to Denver, where she graduated from high school in 1940. It was here that she met John Conway at a young people’s meeting at church. They were married on Feb. 26, 1941. They were privileged to reach their 70th wedding anniversary in 2011, just two months before John was excused to go before her and be part of her welcoming committee in heaven.

When Irene was 16, she received Jesus Christ as her Savior and endeavored to be faithful to Him the rest of her life. She and John raised six children, each of whom was influenced by the faith of their parents.

Irene was very intelligent and creative, with a fun sense of humor. She was from childhood an avid reader and ready learner, especially of Scripture and spiritual truths. During the years of John’s pastorates, Irene began teaching various aged classes and held many offices in the church. For a time she even held a preacher’s license. Irene was also artistic, enjoying drawing and painting. She had a gift for expressing her heart in prose and poetry, often centered around issues of faith.
In the last few years of her life, as dementia eroded her memory and grasp on reality, the one area that was untouched by the disease was her knowledge of and love for God and the assurance of His love for her. She expressed that loving people was all that mattered and the rest could be left to God to sort out.

Those grieving her absence and rejoicing in her presence with the Lord include one son John (Wai Ming) Conway, Cumming, GA; four daughters, Karen (Don) Koehn, Wilmore, KY; Rachel Skellenger, Taylors, SC; Becky (Tom) Shaw, Fremont, NE; and Vivien (Duane) Reeves, Orange City, IA; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandsons; one sister-in-law, Mary Ellen (Raymond) Frank, Colorado Springs, CO; nephew Bill Taylor; cousins Paul, John and Andrew Kerby, and Evangeline Burgess; and many friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, Irene was preceded in death by her brother, Sidney Taylor; one son, Patrick; and two granddaughters, Robin and Laura.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home, Orange City, IA., obit.