Family and friends mourn the passing of James Joseph Conway who died peacefully at the age of 82 on December 28, 2009. Born in the farming town of Aberdeen, South Dakota, he graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which he served for 27 years. With his wife, Jean who predeceased him, Jim raised a family of eight children: Pamela Conway, Michael (Lynn) Conway, Mary (Bill) Jacobson, Patricia (Dennis) Gaby, Karen Conway, Thomas Conway, Barbara Conway and Kathy (Robert) Hunt. In addition to his children and wife of six years, Velma, Jim leaves behind nine grandchildren: Alison & Mitchel Gaby; Michelle & Reese Conway; Ian & Shelby Jacobson; Melissa Conway Pence; Lauren & James Hunt. Step -daughter Carla (Earl) Cornish and step- grandson Robert Cornish and nephew Christopher Conway of Lafayette, Co and niece Ann Johnson of Conroe, Texas. His kindness and compassionate spirit will be missed.
bill pettit
My name is bill pettit FBI retired.
I was a longtime friend and golfer at los serranos, chino ca. and other courses with
Jim Conway. when one of his daughters was saying the differenct names Jim had, it
reminded me of the way i always greeted him, it was SARAJJBBC
which ment SA for Special Agent RA for Resident agent JJ for Jimmy JOE
Double B B for BILLY BOB and C for Conway.
With Love AND Prayers for All
Patty (Kertin) Thompson
I believe my parents, Bob and Pat Kertin, met Mr. Conway through Mark Thompson at the LA FBI office, where my Dad was an agent. I have lots of memories of the Conway family gatherings as a young person. As I look back at the wonderful life our parents gave us, I can also remember the Conway family as truly special friends. Mr. Conway always had a wisdom that went beyond his words, a sweetness that went beyond his smile, and a heart of pure gold. So if I could write a poem, I'd begin by telling him how much I cherished all the beautiful things about him. I'd tell him that feelings like the ones I feel for him are some of the most special gifts life has to give...and that in this life we live, he...was a "one in a million". Someone will always cherish the warmth of his smile and the happiness in his heart. Someone will always keep you lovingly in mind and will welcome every opportunity to find you in happy thoughts. Someone will always know that life is good because of you, and that tomorrow has a bright and shining hope that wouldn't be there if you weren't in their lives. Someone will always try to find the words to thank you for filling life with dreams come true and with beautiful memories. And before my poem was through... I would find a way to tell you that there may be lots of folks who help to brighten up this world...but none of them holds a candle to you. Everyone needs someone like you...
Robert Hunt
I am married Dad Conway's youngest daughter Kathy. I know my wife is the wonderful and gracious woman that she is because of the way he and her mother raised her. She loves and respects me as her husband because of the love and respect she has for her Father. So I am deeply grateful for all Dad has given me in his daughter and honored to have known him and to be a part of the Conway extended family. Our son James is named after Dad and we hope he will grow up to be the same caliber of a man that James Joseph Conway was.
Sandy (Fowler) Kondrath
I worked with Jim in Memphis back in the sixties. Along with Maury Evans (I knew him as "Mr. Maurice Evans") Jim has always been a good friend to me - after I came to California he was always there if I needed something... He came to a special luncheon for our 23 yr old son Joey, who had been murdered on 6-10=92. This was sponsored by my husband Joe, and myself, along with the California District Attorneys Association, to help make people in the state of California more aware of a 'non-unanimous' vote in favor of life without the possibilty of parole. (We had endured three trials to get the three murderers behind bars where they belonged.) Jim was there supporting our cause as was needed. We thank him for that day and his great support. He sent me "The Grapevine" magazine (this is a magazine from The FBI) when he finished reading it and I enjoyed reading about some of the former FBI Agents that I had worked with in Washington DC and Memphis. I enjoyed always hearing from him whenever we took time to call each other.
I truly thank his Wife Velma and his children for calling me last week - I am so sorry to see him leave us - he was dearly loved by everyone and will be truly missed by all.
Joe & Sandy (Fowler)Kondrath
