CONLEY, Charles R.

Charles R. Conley of Tempe passed away in Banner Desert Medical Center on Palm Sunday, April 4, 2004, due to complications following surgery. Chuck was born in Evanston, IL, in 1923 to the late Joseph A. and Myrtle (Willey) Conley. He graduated from Forest High School, Forest OH, in 1941 and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1946 where he trained to be an aerial photographer and pilot. He married Margaret Switzer on Dec. 24, 1943, and they celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1993; she passed away in 1998. While residing in Findlay, OH, he took photos for the local newspaper and opened The Photo Center in 1952. He left Findlay in 1954 due to his wife's health. He was hired by Arizona State University in July 1954 as sports photographer and in Dec. 1960, he gave ASU a six months' notice and opened his own business Conley Photography. He continued to take pictures for ASU as a free-lance photographer and did so even after his retirement in 1998. Their only child Douglas died in 1981; a brother Donald and wife are also deceased. Chuck is survived by daughter-in-law Patricia and two granddaughters Ann and Erin (Brian), Tempe; brothers Joseph A. (Sue) Jr., Arlington, OH, Nelson (Jane), Forest, OH; and two devoted sisters-in-law Audrey and Barbara. He is also survived by his beloved friend Eleanor Gooch, Mesa. Charles held numerous offices in the local Gideon Camp and also Gideons International. Visitation Wed., April 7, 2004, at Resthaven Park Mortuary, 4310 E. Southern Ave., Phoenix. Memorial services were held at Arizona Community Church, 9325 S. Rural Rd., Tempe, on Thurs., April 8, 2004. Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 26328, Tempe, AZ 85282. Published in the Arizona Republic on 4/7/2004.