Conley H. Snow

Lansing, Michigan

Age 92, Conley passed away May 6, 2015.  He was born June 27, 1922, in Bristol, TN, to Conley (Sr.) and Ethel Snow. Conley’s passion for aviation started at a young age, starting with making model airplanes and winning contests in high school to watching radio controlled planes while living in Colorado during retirement.  Conley entered the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942 and became the pilot he always dreamed to be. He flew everything from the T-33 trainer to B-17 and B-29 bombers and finally at the rank of Captain Conley flew F-80 jets while in the Reserves in the 1950’s. A young man’s dream fulfilled. After WWII, Conley attended the University of Michigan. He worked for Brooks & Perkins in Detroit as an aeronautical engineer for 30 years, retiring in 1982.

Conley and his wife, Celia, headed to Colorado immediately after his retirement to live in the mountains and downhill ski to their hearts content. They led very active lives in Colorado for 29 years.  Conley and Celia enjoyed camping, hiking, skiing and just being in the mountains. Conley and Celia returned to Michigan in 2011, living in Lansing. 

Conley cherished Celia, the love of his life, for 71 years. Celia describes Conley as her “sweet man”. Children, grandchildren and then great-grandchildren entered Conley’s life. Conley treasured his family and the fun times they had together.  Teaching his grandchildren to ski, camp, work on wood projects, play games and just being Grandpa or Papa was his pleasure. Friends and knowing how to be a friend was also important to Conley, which is evident by the long list of young and old friends who still talk about him. Faith and leading a life based on Christian values structured Conley’s life. 

Surviving are:  his wife of 71 years, Celia; 3 children, C. Robert (Peggy) Snow, Beverly (Charles) Phillips, and David Snow; 5 grandchildren, Sean (Summer) Snow, Justin (Kristin) Phillips, Kevin (Melissa) Phillips, Jennifer (Keith) Snow Basom and Jamie Snow; and 3 great-grandchildren, Colin Phillips, Hallie Phillips, and Miles Phillips. 

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2015, at Mayflower Congregational Church, 2901 W. Mt. Hope Ave., Lansing.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mayflower Congregational Church. Arrangements by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.

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2 Messages to “Conley H. Snow

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David Snow
May 12, 2015 at 7:32 pm

Greatest Dad you could ever ask for. We did everything, just name it. If we did not have it we tried to make it, sometime better, sometimes worse, but we made it together.

He trusted and supported me in whatever I went after, great feeling!!!

He gave me my two best passions, skiing and wood working. I draw more from what my dad taught me everyday than all the stuff I learned in school.

My Dad and my 2 girls (Jennifer & Jamie) had a great relationship. As a parent, to see your kids enjoy the love you felt as a child is a wonderful thing.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

David Snow #2 Son

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Robin Landry
June 12, 2015 at 10:24 pm

Dear Mrs. Snow and family,
My family had the pleasure of living two houses down from Mr. Conley and Mrs. Celia for the two years that we lived in Highlands Ranch on Cobblestone Drive.

Even though I was very homesick for my family in Louisiana, Mr. & Mrs. Snow loved my boys, BJ and Ben, like their own grandchildren, and they always checked in on me when my husband was out of town on business.

We are planning a visit to Denver in the near future, and as I was looking up old friends to visit, I learned of Mr. Snow’s recent death.

Please know that while they were in our lives for a very short time, their impact on our lives has been very positive and long lasting.

Bryant and Robin Landry
Houma, Louisiana

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