Richard “Ric” A. Conway

He was born on March 17,1957 in Newark, N.J., the son of the late Edward and Margaret (Pullman) Conway. and was employed as a foreman and roofer for Barber Construction Inc. for over 30 years.

One of Ric’s greatest passions in life was racing homing pigeons. At the young age of seven years, his mother gifted him a pair of birds to keep him occupied and off the streets. He soon became the youngest member of the Bayshore Racing Pigeon Club in New Jersey and went on to join many clubs over the years. He has been a member of the Erie Racing Pigeon Club in Erie, Pa. for over 30 years, where he became a champion racer winning many ribbons and trophies. He was also an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, trapping and, sometimes, just sitting in his stand watching the wildlife go by.

To know Ric was to love Ric. He had a quick wit and sense of humor as well as the unique ability to be polite, grumpy, blunt, lovable and humorous all at the same time. This is a trait very few could ever pull off quite like him and one that all who knew him will miss. Ric kept that wit right up to the end asking the nurses if his hair had lost its curl…hair which had fallen out weeks earlier following his radiation therapy.

Surviving Ric are is wife, his ‘Brighteyes’, of 35 years, Sandra (Gross) Conway; three sons: Shawn Conway, Richard Conway, Jr. and Justin (John Fisher) Wilkins, all of Westfield; three daughters: April (Garry) Lanphere of Westfield, Jessica (Andrew) Hazenberg of Jamestown, and Tiffany (Victor Sanchez) Conway of Westfield; three brothers: Edward Conway of Mayville, Victor Conway of Conneaut, Ohio, and Kevin (Darlene) Conway of Ashville, N.Y.; two sisters: Donna Conway of Mayville and Alice (Doug) Burnett of Ashville; twelve cherished grandchildren: Emmily (Jeff) Nelson, Nicholas, Tayllor and Greysson Lanphere, Mariah and Elijiah Dros, Isaiah and Josiah Sanchez, Tage Hazenberg, Eric, Evan and Adalyn Conway; two great grandchildren: Myla and Finn Nelson.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Cindy ”Peachy” Conway.

Private services were held by the family. A celebration of Ric’s life will be held in Barcelona, Sept, 12, at the Moose Beach Pavilions from 1-4 p.m.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mason Funeral Home 37 Clinton St. Westfield, N.Y.

Condolences may be shared at www.masonfuneral.com.