Conley Hiram Gregory was born June 14, 1952, in Monticello, Kentucky, and departed this life Sunday, January 12, 2025, reaching the age of 72 years.  Conley was a Christian and passed peacefully, assured of his salvation, at the Wayne County Hospital following an extended battle with kidney cancer.  He was the son of the late Alton and Velva Watson Gregory.

Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Joanna Gregory; one daughter, Sara Beth Gregory; one brother, Leonard Francis Gregory (Jean); and one sister Teary Troxell (Danny).  Conley is also survived by numerous extended family members and a host of cherished friends.

In addition to his parents, Conley was preceded in death by his siblings:  Guy Estill Gregory, Irene Myers, Louise Stinson, and Leland Dale Gregory.

Conley started working in the construction industry when he was just a teenager.  In 1982, he and Joanna opened their own business.  In the early days, Conley operated as a one-man service business working out of a truck, with Joanna serving as bookkeeper in addition to another full-time job.  Through hard work, perseverance, and prayer, the business grew from a single truck to the company it is today.

With over 40 years in operation, Conley Gregory Construction completed countless projects that brought jobs and infrastructure to our region.  It would be hard to drive down any road in Wayne County and not see a project that the construction company was involved with in some way. Conley believed in working to make our community a better place, and he devoted many years of service as a board member of the Wayne County Hospital as well as the Wayne County Industrial Foundation and Industrial Development Authority.

Conley was an avid basketball fan and loved supporting his favorite teams, which were always the Kentucky Wildcats and the Wayne County Cardinals.  In recognition of his dedication to supporting the Cardinals, he was inducted as a member of both the 12th Region Basketball Hall of Fame and the Wayne County Basketball Hall of Fame.

Conley was a lifelong, dedicated Republican, but he also loved getting into spirited discussions with his many Democrat friends.  He was honored to be among the first recipients of the Wayne County Republican Party's Service Award and an inductee into the prestigious Fifth District Lincoln Club's Hall of Fame.  Among Conley's proudest moments were seeing his daughter campaign and win elections to serve as State Representative, State Senator, and now as Circuit Judge.  His political advice was invaluable in those endeavors.

Whether it be construction work, farming, or spending time with friends and family, Conley was able to spend his life doing what he loved.  He will be greatly missed here, but we are certain he is enjoying many heavenly reunions and catching up on story-telling with old friends on the other side.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy in the form of donations to the First Baptist Church of Monticello or to Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief.

Pall bearers will be the employees of Conley H. Gregory Construction, Inc.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 16, 2025, from 4 PM – 8 PM and Friday, January 17 from 8 AM - 11 AM at First Baptist Church.  Funeral services will be held Friday, January 17, 2025, at 11 AM at First Baptist Church. Burial will be in the Elk Spring Cemetery.

Hickey Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.