Bill Conaway

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

William (Billy) Carl Conaway passed away 21 June 2016, in Pineville, Missouri. He was born in Garden Lake, NJ, March 23, 1927. He spent the first 43 years of his life in southern Delaware, the son of William and Phoebe (Taylor) Conaway. Bill was married to the love of his life Delores Helen (Dolly) Emerson for 63 years before her passing in 2009. Bill often said, I lived the life I loved and most people wished they had. He was a real cowboy, an accomplished horseman, cattleman, blacksmith and multi-talented bluegrass musician. Bill could play almost anything with strings but in his later years focused on his Dobro as lead of the Ozark Ridge Runners Band. He played with his friends all over McDonald County and the tri-state area for over 40 years. To the joy of his oldest daughter and guests, the Ozark Ridge Runners played at her wedding in Eureka Springs Arkansas in 2014, when Bill was 87. As an accomplished rider and trainer, Bill won numerous trophies and awards, including the World Show in Oklahoma.

He was preceded in death by his wife Dolly, his parents, his brother Emerson W. Conaway, two sisters Hannah Bradley and Lillian Conaway.

Bill is survived by two daughters, Linda DeTurk (Ralph) Springfield VA, Dixie Finan (Bill) Anderson MO; four grandchildren, Duke Kirby (Lyn) Springfield VA, Scott Kirby (Belynda) Bridgeport WVA, Darla Robertson (Clay) Anderson MO, Misty Firchau (Chad) Diamond Head MS, five great grandchildren, Tyler Robertson; Dylan and Macie Firchau; Colton, and Charlotte Kirby; and a great great grandson Carter Robertson. He is also survived by two sisters in Delaware, Shelby Swain and Sarah Elliott, numerous nieces and nephews as well as a host of extended family and friends and his best friend and musician Richard Rinehart of Wichita KS and friend Maureen Leonard of Pineville MO.

A Celebration of Bill and Dolly’s life, will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. at the Pineville Community Building.

A special thanks to the Compassus Hospice team. In lieu of flowers please make donations in his memory to Compassus Hospice. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website, www.ozarkfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.