Lillian Griffith Conley-Ousley, age 88, of Prestonsburg, Kentucky passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at Emeritus at Halcyon Village in Marysville, Ohio.
An educator in the Kentucky and Ohio school systems for over 35 years, she continued to substitute teach in Floyd County for almost ten years following her retirement in 1990. Throughout her life, she was active in Christian ministry, especially women’s ministries, in Kentucky and Ohio. The wife of a Baptist minister, she and her husband served many Free Will Baptist churches in Eastern Kentucky. Lillian was a remarkable woman who, while raising four children, received a bachelor’s degree in education from Pikeville College in Pikeville, Kentucky and a master’s degree in reading education from Indiana University, Bloomington.
A devoted wife and dedicated mother, she was known for her home-style cooking, especially cornbread and beans. She found great joy in canning, freezing and preserving the family garden harvests. For many years, she was a Mary Kay beauty consultant. She was an avid reader and was a passionate Bible student. Above all, she will be most remembered for her unceasing heart of service and unconditional love for her family.
She was born November 7, 1926 in Estill, Kentucky to the late John Franklin Griffith and Ollie Young Griffith Nichols. She was also preceded in death by her first husband of fifty years, Reverend Dewey Conley, who died in 1995; her second husband, Willard Ousley, who died in 2007; her siblings, Roberta Griffith, Gene Griffith, Mary Opal Dooley and John Griffith; her daughter, Rita Conley; a grandson, James Franklin Conley, II; a sister-in-law, Nora Griffith; and a son-in-law, Fred Caceres.
She is survived by a son, James Franklin (Christine) Conley of Lexington, KY; two daughters, Mary Caceres of Hilliard, Ohio and Faye (Steve) Ruffing of Marysville, Ohio; ten grandchildren, Barbara (Jeff) Lund, Susan Conley, Carey (Peter) Thomson, Alan (Amaris) DeRossett, Jeffrey Conley, Matthew Wilson, Emily (Derrick) Herman, Stephen (Amanda) Conley, Freddie (Stephanie) Caceres and Ryan Ruffing; numerous great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; a brother, Bill (Mary Gail) Griffith of Miamisburg, Ohio; a sister, Julia (Bob) Duchemin of Franklin, Ohio; a brother-in-law, Al Dooley; a sister-in-law, Billie Griffith; a granddaughter-in-law, Lenetta Conley; step-children, Jack (Karen) Ousley, Joanne (Norman) Goble, Barbara (John) Brewer, Rudolph Ousley and Glen (Gina) Ousley; and many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Underwood Funeral Home, 703 East Fifth Street, Marysville, Ohio 43040.
Visitation will be held 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Carter Funeral Home, 234 South Lake Drive, Prestonsburg, Kentucky 41653.
A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Monday with visitation two hours prior to the service at Highland Avenue Free Will Baptist Church, 346 South Highland Avenue, Prestonsburg, Kentucky 41653. Rev. Clifford Austin will officiate and burial will be at Gethsemane Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, 685 Delaware Avenue, Marion, Ohio 43302. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.underwoodfuneralhome.com.
