Ronald "Coach" Conley, 79, a fifty-three year resident of Burney, CA passed away on September 2, 2021 at his home.
Ron was born July 30th, 1942 in Alliance, Nebraska to Ethel and Clair Conley. His family moved to Redding, CA n the mid 50's where he attended and graduated from Enterprise High School in 1960. Ron played football and baseball in high school and went on to play baseball for Chico State his junior and senior year of college. Coach earned a degree in Physical Education in 1964 and received his teaching credential a year later.
Coach originally met his wife, Marie, at Enterprise High School where his request to accompany her to the Junior Prom was turned down. It wouldn't be until years later that they would reunite and fall in love in Chico, CA. Ron and Marie got married December 29, 1963 in San Bruno, CA. Ron went on to teach at Shandon High School for three years and during that time Ron and Marie had their son, Kevin, in 1966. In 1968, they moved to Burney, CA where Coach taught at Fall River High School for one year while Burney High School was being built. Ron and Marie welcomed their daughter, Kristi in 1969. Ron started coaching and teaching the same year that Burney High School opened. Ron coached three sports a year for the first 19 years of his career. Coach retired in 2007 after 39 years of teaching and coaching in the inter-mountain area.
Coach prided himself on always trying to be a positive role model to students and athletes. He instilled people to always do t he best they could do and take pride in what they did. Coach never met a stranger and always had time to talk to people.
He was a steadfast LA Dodgers and Nebraska Cornhusker fan, and enjoyed classic cars.
He will be missed by many across numerous generations. Ron is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marie. His children, Kevin (Angie) Conley and Kristi (Jeff) Waller. His grandchildren: Kayla (Erik) Brown, Brodrick Nickens, Kelsey (James) Jarrell, Olivia (Matt) Harris, Megan (Josh) Pollard and Gabby (Trevor) Leisy. His great-grandchildren: Jackson, Andrew, Bennett, Broox, Tomi, Averie and C.
A celebration of life will take place Saturday, September 11 at 11:00am at the Burney High School Gymnasium. Cards of condolence can be mailed to the family at PO Box 592, Burney, CA 96013. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund in Coach's name has been set up at US Bank.