Reece T. Conley, Jr., 78, of P. O. Box 15, Spring Gap, MD 21560, died peacefully at home with his wife at his side on April 6, 2018 following an extended illness. A memorial service will be held at Scarpelli Funeral Home, P. A., 108 Virginia Ave, Cumberland, MD, 21502 on Saturday, July 28, 2018 with a visiting hour at 1:00 p.m. followed by the service at 2:00 p.m.
Reece was born the eldest son of Reece T. and Emma Downes Conley at Chestertown, Kent Co., MD. He grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland graduating from Caroline High School in the Class of 1958. His career in nursing began at Eastern Shore State Hospital as a direct care assistant. He earned his certificate as a Licensed Practical Nurse at ESSH. Reece went on to further his nursing career earning his Registered Nurse diploma from Salisbury University School of Nursing, his Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree and Master's Degree in Nursing Administration from the University of Maryland at Baltimore, MD. In 1976 Reece was inducted into the PI chapter of Sigma Theta Tau of the University of Maryland School of Nursing. In addition to his usual nursing duties he was an instructor in the Eastern Shore State Hospital's LPN program. Reece thoroughly enjoyed his role as a nurse teacher for both his patients and students. He was especially proud to be one of Maryland's first male nurses.
Following the call to teach, Reece transferred to western Maryland in the mid-1980's to head the Training and Education program at the Thomas B. Finan Center at Cumberland, MD. He enjoyed his many opportunities and experiences working with staff members to continually improve performance in areas of health and safety for both patients and staff. Always pursuing excellence in his work, Reece was a fair and compassionate leader strongly advocating for the needs of patients and his nursing staff. He served for 37 years as a psychiatric nurse in the State of Maryland's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene retiring from the Finan Center in 1996 as Director of Nursing. Following retirement from the Finan Center Reece served as a nurse counselor at Psychiatric Associates of Cumberland on a part-time basis as well as on the Council for Hospital Pastoral Care.
After retirement Reece and his wife enjoyed a tour of Ireland. He was especially proud of his Irish heritage. Through genealogical research Reece endeavored to discover as much as possible about his Irish ancestry and the immigration of his 3rd Great-Grandfather Henry Conley to Maryland's Eastern Shore in the early 1800's.
Learning and teaching were Reece's passions and he enjoyed both his entire life. As an avid reader especially focusing on world and American history, Civil War history took center stage for Reece in later years. As a past four year president of the Civil War Roundtable of Allegany County, Reece enjoyed meeting for animated discussions with fellow history buffs, authors and theme presenters. During his presidency, the book "The Civil War Era in Cumberland, Maryland and Nearby Keyser, West Virginia" by the late Harold L. Scott, Sr. underwent its second printing with permission of the Scott family and sponsorship by the Civil War Roundtable of Allegany County to honor and broaden the readership of Mr. Scott's research of local history. Also, during Reece's presidency, Folck's Mill battleground was named to the National Register of Historic Places preserving the Folck's Mill battleground and events in Cumberland's Civil War history. Cumberland's Heritage Days was an arena in which Reece enjoyed educating the public about the Civil War and the work of the Civil War Roundtable. As a volunteer at the Allegany County Museum he enjoyed learning all he could about the various exhibits to convey the subject matter as a docent enhancing the experience of museum visitors when requested. One of the last projects that Reece worked on in committee was the placement of new and updated signs at notable historical sites of Civil War activity in Allegany County, MD.
Reece was loved and will be missed by friends, colleagues, "the boys in the hollow" and the "daily Post Office community meeting" members but especially by his family and very dear family friends, the Tom Bostaph family. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 23 years, Carolyn Pierce Conley, step-daughter Corinne (Michael) Whalen and granddaughter Cassidy Whalen, all of Winchester, VA, grandson, James M. Turner of Hagerstown, MD and sister Jane Ellis of Bridgeville, DE as well step-granddaughter Amanda (Shane) Connor and their children Emily, Chase, Seth and Kaleigh, several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and his constant companions his furkids Gus, Toby and Bill. He was predeceased by his first wife of 35 years, Priscilla Windsor Conley, son Reece T. Conley, III and daughter Corleen Arrowood, siblings Mildred Clara Hinzman, Joyce Harris and Robert Conley.
Those wishing to honor Reece's memory may do so by donating to his preferred charities that include the Allegany County Animal Shelter, 716 Furnace Street, Cumberland, MD 21502; Schwab Family Cancer Center of Cumberland Attn: Julie Hardy, 12500 Willowbrook Road, Cumberland, MD 21502; and WMHS Hospice of Cumberland 1050 Industrial Blvd., Suite 19, Cumberland, MD 21502.
Reece's family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff including pastoral care services at the Schwab Family Cancer Center and WMHS Hospice of Cumberland, MD for the excellent, supportive and compassionate care Reece and his family received during his illness.
A memorial service for Reece will be held at the Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., 108 Virginia Avenue, Cumberland, on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at 2 p.m. Family and friends will be received one hour prior to the memorial service.
Condolences for the family may be left at www.ScarpelliFH.com