Roger passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon, April 7, 2011 at White Oaks Assisted Living Center (Hawthorn Hall) in Lawton with his family at his side. Roger was born April 18, 1927 in Kalamazoo, the son of the late Lowell and Gladys (Loomis) Conolly. Roger was a Paw Paw High School graduate with the class of 1945 and after graduation entered the U.S. Navy serving in World War II. Roger loved sports, coaching American Legion Baseball in Paw Paw, and was the Paw Paw High School scoreboard operator in football and scorekeeper for the Paw Paw High School basketball team for 38 years.
He was a tool and die maker for James River Corp. until his retirement in September of 1988 and worked part time for the Paw Paw Shopping Center during the summer months and spent the winters in Florida. During his retirement years he loved bowling, gardening, golfing, and in Florida had season tickets for the Detroit Tigers, Bush Gardens and Disney World. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Paw Paw, and American Legion, McGowan-Johnson Post #68, Paw Paw.
On June 26, 1948, in Paw Paw, Roger was united in marriage to Mavis Ladyman for 62 loving years. Surviving are his wife, Mavis; 2 sons: Steve (Sharon) Conolly of Kalamazoo and Rev. Jeff (Karen) Conolly of Redford, MI; daughter: Linda (Marvin) Imus of Mattawan; 6 grandchildren: Jennifer (Tim) Ambrose, Julie(Chris) Maurer, Jeff (Kim) Conolly, James Conolly, Sarah (Jon) Hokenmaier, and Mandy Imus; 4 great grandchildren, Connor and Emmy Ambrose, Peyton and Logan Conolly; 3 brothers: Dale (Betty) Conolly of Paw Paw; Norman (Joan) Conolly of Paw Paw; Gordon (Sally) Conolly of Kalamazoo; 2 sisters-in-law, Patricia Conolly of Kalamazoo and Dolores Conolly of Moville, IA. He was preceded in death by 3 brothers, James, Russell, and Lawrence.
Family will receive friends Sunday (4/10) at the Adams Funeral Home, Paw Paw from 1-3 and 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Monday, 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, Paw Paw with Pastor Buddy Turner officiating. Interment will follow in Almena Cemetery with military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to the Roger Conolly memorial fund in care of the First Baptist Church, Paw Paw.