June Conway

C. June Conway passed away peacefully on August 2, 2024, after a full and blessed 94 years of life. The funeral service will be held at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, Odessa at 2:00 PM, Saturday, August 10, 2024. Family visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Friday, August 9, 2024, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home with Paul Klaus, June's nephew, officiating.

 June was born at home, the 4th of 7 children, in Brady, Nebraska on June 19, 1930, to Fred and Jennie Parsons Isbrandtsen. The family lived and farmed in several places in SE Nebraska during her childhood. She graduated high school in Loup City, NE in 1948. Upon graduation, she attended Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, MN. She found her passion in nursing however and transferred to University of Nebraska Nursing School in Omaha, graduating in 1955. She was a lifelong Cornhusker! Upon graduation, her pioneer spirit led her to her first job at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, TX. She loved nursing and the Medical Center! As fate would have it, she met and fell in love with another pioneer spirit, Bob Conway, whom she met when he was a patient at MCH. Bob too had come to West Texas from up north to check out the newfound opportunities in the Permian Basin. They married at Belmont Baptist on April 12, 1958. They welcomed 2 daughters, Kathryn Marie in 1960 and Kelli Sue in 1964. There are many precious memories of family camping trips and church activities. She and Bob supported all things Odessa together, especially MOJO football, until Bob’s death in 1991.

During her nursing career, June held most of the nursing positions at Medical Center. In the 1970’s, she served as the Director of Nurses/Assistant Administrator. She left MCH in the early 1980s to pursue the fledgling industry of home health. With 5 other area nurse friends, they opened We Care Home Health in 1981 making it the 2nd home health ever to be in the area. When We Care sold out to a larger company in 1991, she returned to her beloved MCH on a day surgery unit. She retired from nursing in 1996. She then helped her daughter Kathy in her accounting and tax business until 2022. She enjoyed working and volunteering with the Permian Basin Health Fair, Odessa Citizens Police and Fire Academies and Meals on Wheels. She held most of the offices in the Permian Basin chapter of the Texas Nursing Association. 

She became a Christian at a young age and spent her life serving her Lord and helping anyone that needed it. Her kids’ friends lovingly called her “Mama June” because she was the ultimate mom. Her home was always open, especially to newcomers at MCH and every visiting evangelist at church. She loved her church and her Senior Adult 4 Sunday School class at First Baptist Church. In her younger years, she was active in WMU and taught ladies’ Sunday School as well as participated in many mission trips.

Mourning her loss, but thankful for the blessing of all the years they had with her are her daughters, Kathy Witt and her husband Dee of Odessa, and Kelli Coble and her husband David of Vernon; three granddaughters, Leslie Dodson and husband Nick of Little Elm, Morgan Coble, who has been her precious constant companion for the last 2 years, of Vernon and Jennifer Havens and husband Matt along with their children Jackson and Harper Kate of Wichita Falls, Special “daughter” Lori Molthan and “son” John Patton and wife Donna who she loved as her own, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Dee Witt, David Coble, Nick Dodson & Matt Havens will serve as pallbearers.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Jennie Isbrandsen, her beloved husband, Bob Conway, her sisters, Louise Canfield, Mildred Vocke, Shirley Klaus and Beverly Gleeson, her brothers Howard Isbrandtsen and Bill Isbrandtsen, and many treasured friends and colleagues.

June leaves a legacy of strong work ethic, generous hospitality and a passion for loving and helping people. Her family asks that, should you feel led, memorials can be sent to Meals on Wheels of Odessa, 1314 E. 5th St. Odessa TX or Meals on Wheels of Vernon, 4400 Augusta St. Vernon TX.