Obituary of Joseph Albert McConkey

Joseph Albert McConkey October 17, 1925 - April 10, 2009 Joseph Albert McConkey passed away on Friday, April, 10, 2009, surrounded by family, including Joy, his loving wife of 62 years. He was born Oct. 17, 1925 in Toronto, Canada to Thomas & Nellie (Meekin) McConkey. Joe was the youngest of six children. He is survived by brothers, Edward and George McConkey and sister Ellen Bonham, who reside in Toronto. Joe served in the Royal Canadian Army before he married Joyce Farley on July 20, 1946. The couple had four daughters, Sherry, Barbara, Debra and Cindy. Joe always dreamed of moving to the United States,”where oranges grew in abundance.” In 1965, he packed up his family and moved to Garden Grove, Ca. and was involved in boat building for many years. A love of the water and the opportunity to open his own business building boats brought the couple to Seabrook, Tx., in 1978. Upon his retirement, Joe, Joy and their grandson Bobby Miller, who they adopted, moved to Pensacola, Fla. where he and Joy built the home of their dreams. They returned to Texas a decade ago and settled in La Porte. Joe was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather with a great sense of humor. Joe celebrated his Irish heritage and had a love of family, God and country. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, and his daughter, Debra Miller. He is survived by his wife Joy, daughters Sherry Bone and husband Jim of La Porte, Barbara Brown and husband Larry of Ft. Worth and Cindy Guglietta of Houston, 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday April 15, at 4 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of La Porte. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to FUMC of La Porte, 9601 Fairmont Pkwy, La Porte, TX 77571.