Graveside Service
Robert William Conway, 69, of Shoshoni, Wyoming, entered eternal rest in the everlasting glory of God's loving embrace on Sunday, April 20, 2025.
Robert was born on October 18, 1955, in Saint Louis, Missouri to Alva Cleo Conway and Dorothy Ruth (Jamieson) Conway. Robert was the eldest brother of five children born to Dorothy, bolstering a deep dedication to his family and an inclination to do everything he could to help those around him. He enjoyed working with his hands, tinkering with things, and cared deeply for those he loved. Robert was highly intelligent and a "creative little engineer" as a child, building everything from live box traps and stilts to tree forts and underground tunnels. Robert was their mom's best helper, helping split wood for the stove and bringing it in, babysitting the younger ones, building his youngest sister a bicycle and teaching her to ride it, and even cooking sometimes. Robert's siblings remember him as an adventurous mind who made life fun, with fond memories of him bringing home old CB and ham radios to tinker with, always figuring out how to make or fix things, just like his dad. He was raised in Gresham, Oregon until the summer of 1967, then attended Central High School in Grand Junction, Colorado before proudly serving in the United States Army from 1973 to 1975 as a recovery specialist.
Robert worked many different professions throughout his life, starting out in the restaurant industry washing dishes and cooking as a young teenager, before joining his mother in long-haul truck driving. He worked in the Clayton Silver Mines, developing his experience with dynamite, primer cord and electric caps, and maintenance welding. He spent some time working construction, ultimately spending most of his career as a skilled pipe fitter and welder in the oil fields and on the North Slope of Alaska. Evidenced by his work, he valued being meticulous and thorough in everything he did. Robert's work brought him all around the country, and with his charismatic "life of the party" personality, he would find friends wherever he'd go. His work involved long hours away from his family for weeks at a time, but he was always sure to bring something home to put a smile on his children's faces, be it a souvenir or life lesson from his travels.
Robert was a devoted family man and the proud father of five children. In 1998, he met his lifelong companion, Laura Louise Hadaller, in Cle Elum, Washington. They married on May 8, 1999 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and settled down in Paul, Idaho to start their family before moving to the place they truly called home, Wyoming. Together they lovingly raised two children, Dorothy Alva Conway, born on Robert's birthday, and Daniel Ray Conway. His beloved son Daniel passed away in 2021. He had three other sons—Stetson, Shane, and Shawn Conway—from a previous marriage, in Alaska. He valued every minute of the quality time he was able to spend with his grandchildren in Alaska. Robert was immensely proud of all of his children and loved them deeply. Robert was also a loving father to Laura's two daughters from a previous marriage, Stephani and Victoria Rivera.
After his family, Robert's second deepest love was the outdoors. Fishing, hunting, camping, barbecues, and family/friend get-togethers brought him great joy. He ran 40 miles of trapline in Alaska, catching everything from wolves and bobcats to lynx and other critters. He especially took pride in teaching his children the practical lessons of life – showing them the ropes of everything he loved about the outdoors and keeping them by his side whenever he was building something new or putting some love into something old, explaining the math and logic behind what he was doing along the way.
Robert had an impeccable sense of humor and was quite the storyteller, lighting up the room with compelling tales and cherished memories from throughout his life. Whether it was about riding freight trains as a young teenager, a memory from growing up with his siblings, or silly shenanigans his children had gotten him into just the night before, he always found a way to fill the room with laughter. Although he experienced many challenges throughout his life, he kept a positive "can-do" attitude, always finding a way with his strong will. He would give the shirt off his back to help those in need, no matter if they needed a ride across the state, a shoulder to cry on, or a comforting place to stay until they got back on their feet.
Robert will be missed deeply by his family and friends. Robert was a remarkable, uplifting presence in the lives of many, whose love touched everyone around him. He will be remembered for his resilience, faith, devotion, dependability, strength, kindness, and unwavering love and support for those closest to him.
He is survived by his wife, Laura Conway; his daughter, Dorothy Conway and her husband, Anish Sasmal; his sons, Stetson, Shane, and Shawn Conway; his grandchildren; his brother, Art Conway and wife, Dixie; and his sisters, Darlene Child, and Cathryn Todd and her husband, Giovanni.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alva and Dorothy Conway; his brother, Steven Conway; his brother-in-law, Pat Child; and his son, Daniel Conway.
Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Lakeview Cemetery in Shoshoni, Wyoming, where Robert will be laid to rest beside his son, Daniel.
Online condolences may be made to the Conway family at www.TheDavisFuneralHome.com.
Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Crematory and Monuments in Riverton, Wyoming.