Homer Lee Conley

Homer Lee Conley, known affectionately as Lee, was born in Tampa, Florida, on June 3, 1937, and passed away on March 14, 2026, at AUS Senior Living in Bartow, Florida.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Byron and Marylee Conley, and his brothers, Warren, Paul, and Dale Conley. He is survived by his wife of more than 64 years, Gayle West Conley; his sons, Lanny and Kenny Conley; his daughter-in-law, Betty Conley; his beloved grandson, Andrew Conley; his siblings, Louetta Moore, Norma Cannon, Mary Henderson, Jim Conley, Barbara Newell, and Ruth Trainor; his sisters-in-law, Arlene Conley, Virginia Conley, and Iris Conley; and many nieces and nephews.

As the son of a Church of Christ preacher, Lee’s childhood was marked by moves across Florida and Georgia before the family settled in Bartow in 1949. He attended schools in Bell, Florida, and Alma, Georgia, before entering the seventh grade at Summerlin Institute in Bartow, where he graduated in 1955. An active athlete in track, baseball, and football, he went on to play college football at Troy State College on scholarship. After three years, he returned to Bartow and began working for Imperial Lumber Company.

Lee met Gayle in late 1960, and they married on September 2, 1961. Together they raised two devoted sons and were blessed with a cherished daughter-in-law and an amazing grandson. A longtime and faithful member of Peace Creek Baptist Church, Lee served in many ways, including driving the church van and maintaining the grounds. Known for his strong work ethic, he remained deeply connected to sports throughout his life, devoting many years to Dixie Youth Baseball in Bartow and maintaining a special fondness for Bartow High School athletics, particularly the Lady Jackets softball team.