Claire L. Conley - Obituary

laire Lou Conley (née Nicewarner), aged 92, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of love, devotion, and quiet strength. Born on December 21, 1932, in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Claire was the second eldest of six children born to Phillip Earl Nicewarner and Anna-Mar Celestine. She grew up surrounded by her siblings—Sonny, Joe, Jimmy, Bobby, and Mary—with Jimmy remaining as the last surviving sibling. Claire graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1950 and soon after married the love of her life, Thomas Eugene Conley (also from Clarksburg), in June of that year at Trinity Methodist Church in Annapolis, Maryland. Their marriage spanned 65 beautiful years until Tom’s passing in 2016. Together, Claire and Tom built a life rooted in family. Their early married years were spent in Clarksburg, WV. In 1957 they moved to Annapolis, MD where they remained for nearly five decades before relocating to Sevierville, Tennessee in 2006. Following Tom’s death, Claire returned to Maryland, where she spent her remaining years surrounded by loved ones. Claire’s early career included work at Sears and Roebuck in West Virginia, and later at the Blind Industries Company in Maryland, who supported the visually impaired community. Her nurturing spirit led her to become a beloved teacher’s aide at Tyler Heights Elementary School, a role she held for eight years until retirement. She was a devoted mother to three children: Jerry (deceased) and his wife Robin of Stevensville, Roger and his wife Dorothy of Killeen, Texas, and Patty and her husband Wayne of Lothian, Maryland. Her love extended to seven grandchildren—Scarlett (Bobby), Carolina (Renn), Roger Jr. (deceased), Chris (Jamie), Travis (Rachael), Matthew (Lauren), and Tyler (Emily)—13 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Claire’s hands were rarely idle. She found joy in crafting, sewing, counted cross-stitch, crochet, and later, paint-by-numbers. She cherished playing bingo and card games like Phase 10, and was a dedicated homemaker who lovingly cared for several of her grandchildren before they began school. Her affection for animals, especially her dogs—Star, Bruno, Spike, Sooner, and Lucy—was a constant throughout her life. Claire will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her mischievous sense of humor, her unwavering love for family, and the quiet grace with which she lived her life. Her legacy lives on in the generations she nurtured and the memories she created. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Claire's life on Thursday, October 30 from 10-11 AM until the start of her service at 11 AM at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road Edgewater, MD 21037. Interment will follow at Glen Haven Memorial Park. For those who wish to attend the service virtually, please use the following link: online here Should you be prompted for a passcode, please use: 097006 In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Anne Arundel County SPCA in Claire's honor.