Marcus Marcheta (Robinson) Conway
On December 24, 2020 Marcus Marcheta (Robinson) Conway, loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, passed away at the age of 81. Marcus was born in 1939 and lived her youth in the farming community of Happy, Texas, graduating from nearby Canyon High School. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a Masters of Education at West Texas State University. She married William E. Conway in 1958, and they shared life-long love and partnership, residing most of their more than 60 years together in Tucson, Arizona.
In her long career as a high school English teacher, Marcus inspired and guided hundreds of Tucson students, initially at Catalina High School and then for many years at Sahuaro High School. In retirement, she spent time delighting her grandchildren with games and stories and watching them grow. Her “teacher family” from Sahuaro continued to share good times together and for many years she was an active member of the Sahuaro Speculators. She enjoyed water aerobics and walking, and was particularly fond of walking along the beach collecting shells during annual summer trips to San Diego. She loved music and singing and was very accomplished at the piano. One of her most favorite hobbies was dancing with Bill, and they were devoted fans of local Tucson group, the Retro Rockets, and the San Diego area band, the Catillacs.
Marcus lived with kindness, generosity and joy. Her smile brightened your day and warmed your heart. She would alight with happiness in the company of friends and family. She connected easily with everyone she met and quickly turned acquaintances into friends. She enjoyed bringing people together for holidays and special occasions, cooking everyone’s favorite foods, and creating both memories and family traditions. Marcus and Bill found their spiritual home in Desert Skies United Methodist Church. In addition to weekly worship, Marcus was active in the United Methodist Women’s group through which she volunteered with monthly food preparation for the Primavera Foundation and a weekly tutoring program for students at Tanque Verde Elementary school.
Marcus was preceded in death by her father, William “Snooks”, and her mother, Juanita. She is survived by her husband, Bill, her son, Will Conway, and his wife Kati, her daughter, Laura Conway Palumbo, and her husband Michael, and four grandchildren, Carter and Kayla Conway and Marcus and Jared Palumbo. Services to be held when gatherings are permitted. Please consider making a donation to one of her favorite organization. For more details click here
Marcus’s 30-hour Days
Marcus and I were friends and colleagues for many years. Our classrooms were side-by-side at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, and we shared comments daily about teaching. Marcus was always very kind and thoughtful toward adults and students alike in and out of school. One particular day I was astounded when I entered her classroom. In one corner of the room (out of sight of the doorway) was a pile of folded clothing as high as my head. Marcus and her students had been collecting clothing for people in need without any of the rest of the staff knowing about their endeavor. It was typical of Marcus to avoid the limelight and to work for the good of others without letting people know what she was doing.
Marcus worked so hard and remained so calm that she seemed to have a 30-hour day while the rest of us put up with 24. I remember the years when she would leave campus and go home to mix mortar for the new home the Conways were building. Friends were consistently welcome in their home, and Marcus cooked for everyone. When she and Bill came to gatherings at our house, she always brought a coffee cake for us to eat for breakfast the next morning in case we were tired from cleaning up.
I remember the time she asked me at school if I would sign a document stipulating that she did, indeed, teach at Sahuaro High School. TUSD required this because she had lost her paycheck and they wanted someone to vouch for her honesty before replacing it. After I had signed it, I asked how she had lost the paycheck. Marcus sighed and said their goat had eaten it! We laughed over that for a long time.
Marcus Conway was a great person who touched more lives in a positive way than anyone will ever know. It was a privilege to know her.
Sue Peters
A Friendly Hello
In October of 1975, I flew to Houston to visit (Snooks) W. T. Robinson, who was in M. D. Anderson Hospital. After he returned home, I helped him harvest his Milo crop. Snooks was Marcus’s dad. He was a wonderful person. Soon after that I leased their land and still farm it.
When Bill and Marcus came to Texas from Tucson, I would help them sometimes, but mostly they worked together on their house at Arney and the house in Happy. Sometimes trimmed trees.
We usually ate Mexican Food in Tulia once a week. That was always an enjoyable time. Sometimes I walked with Bill in the desert on trails or arroyos sometimes twelve miles. He loved to walk.
I still talk to Bill on the phone when we can make connections.
Bill could fix or do anything. He was a master of all trades. Marcus was a charming lady. She always had a smile for everyone and a friendly “Hello.”
Marcus was a good cook and she fixed Bill lunch and dinner every day. She loved life and was friendly to everyone.
God Bless You.
̶ Vernon Wilhelm
Big Sister
Marcus has been a friend in my life since I was a young girl. She was about 10 years older so I looked to her as a big sister and always admired her. She played the organ at the Methodist Church in Happy and I waited on the front pew for her to finish playing so I could sit by her! She lived in a white two story house with her parents, Snooks and Juanita, and Gramer and we passed by it on our way to my country home. That house was full of memories!
When Marcus and Billy Ed married, I was the candle lighter in their wedding and Juanita made me a beautiful, long pink dress to wear. I felt like a princess! It wasn’t long after they married that they moved to Tucson, Arizona, a long way from Happy, TX. We have been separated by distance for many years but our friendship continued. Jim and I enjoyed several meals with Marcus and Billy Ed in their summer home in Happy. Marcus was a wonderful cook and she learned from the best! Truly a wonderful friend and a pleasure to be in her company.
I miss the anticipation of the Arizona car pulling into the driveway of the summer home in Happy, TX for their annual, monthly visit.
The Robinson family was so special to me and I have wonderful memories of staying with Snooks, Juanita and Gramer. They treated me like one of their own!
Dance Teacher
We have lots of fond memories of spending time with your mom and dad. Bill was my best man and Marcus was in our wedding party in October 1959. I got to know them when I started to school at West Texas. I got to know them before I started dating Dee. Bill and I had lots of math classes together. Once Dee and I started dating, Dee and I spent many nights studying over at their house. They were married by then. We enjoyed each other’s company. I can’t really remember them not being married. Before I met Dee, I would go to dances as a single. I had not danced much so Bill got Marcus to show me how to dance. She was a good teacher at that time. When we were getting ready to graduate in 1960, Bill, Marcus, Dee and I started talking about where we might like to go for Bill and me to go to graduate school. We decided that the University of Arizona sounded good and we liked the idea of warm Tucson. We were having a bad blizzard about then in Canyon. The roads were all blocked with snow. When the roads opened up, Bill, Dee and I headed to Tucson to check out U of A. Marcus could not go because I think she had started teaching. It was cold when we left Canyon. When we got there it was shirt sleeve weather. We liked that! Marcus was a real sport about having to stay home while we went.
Bill and I applied to go to U of A on teaching assistantships. We both got accepted (Bill in math and me in physics). We then moved to Tucson in the summer of 1960. Your mom taught, Dee started raising a family and Bill and I started to school. Marcus was always a good cook. We had lots of fun times together both in Canyon and in Tucson.
Sweet Marcus
Fred and I sat near Marcus at church on Sunday mornings but we really got to know her well in the tutoring program. One day before tutoring started, Marcus and I were putting the snacks together in the kitchen and we got to have a real long conversation about her younger years with Bill and I could really relate to many of the stories she shared with me. They were such hard workers and it was so obvious how their love for each other was so strong. We truly appreciated how loyal she was to the program. I really miss her big smile that she would always share with me.
She was a true blessing.
—Sandy Kleen
Give My Love to Everyone
Bill and Marcus would come to Happy, Texas every summer. I would ALWAYS take them a buck load of vegetables from my garden and a couple dozen fresh eggs. Marcus and Bill was always so happy to see us. And we was so happy to see them. Both of them always wanted to go eat Mexican Food at Aylin’s in Tulia, Texas. And do I mean EAT at Aylin’s. Not just one time but several times a week for a month. We never ate anyplace else. We always went to eat at the Happy Days Celebration. Marcus loved to visit with Happy, Texas friends, classmates and church friends. Eating a BBQ lunch at Happy Days Celebration was a time Marcus always looked forward to and enjoyed. They would come out to our house see the farm, my garden and have nice long visits with us. And Lloyd Ralph always told me to give them all the fresh sweet corn they could eat. And we sure did that. Marcus loved the fresh corn. Before they would go back to Tucson, Arizona the day after Happy Days, we would have more long happy visits and I would load them up again with a buck load of vegetables to take to Arizona.
Marcus loved talking on the phone with Vernon and me. We always called them when we got enough rain to report. When talking to Marcus, I would ask, “How is Bill doing?” A lot of times she would say, “Bill is fine. He is helping Carter with his math.” And when Marcus was leaving to go to Connecticut, she would always call me and tell me she was leaving to go see Laura, her husband, and her grandkids. When she got back she would always call me and tell me she was back and gave me a rundown of her wonderful visit. Marcus loved Laura and Will and all her grandchildren and always spoke highly of them.
Marcus would always ask how our kids was doing. Never forgot. And best of all before we hung up the phone Marcus never forgot to say “Give my love to everyone.”
Love you, Marcus.
—Mary Wilhelm, Happy, Texas
Lovely Marcus
I met Marcus by sitting near she and Bill in church services and you could always see the love flowing between them. Then she joined our tutoring program and she was a delight. She had the quiet grandmother love and patience needed by elementary at-risk children. Always a gentle smile and a kind word. We will miss you lovely lady!
—Jeann Fishback
Food, Fun, and Family
I remember, fondly, our time spent with the Conway family. I especially remember that whenever we got together Marcus made wonderful food and all eight of us shared laughter and happy times. I was always very excited for the trips we took together. This letter I wrote to my grandparents all those years ago clearly shows that Marcus made the memories even more special through her cooking! Marcus was such a kind soul and so gentle, happy and easy going. What a beautiful way to live and to be remembered. ❤
—Andrea Burrell
Meeting Syd and Mac
I remember going over to Lake of the Ozarks back in 1994 to see Marcus and Bill. They were there visiting mom and dad and I lived in Nevada, MO at the time, only a two hour drive away. I remember the visit well because I had driven over with Sydney (about 22 months) and Mac (about 8 months) and I was very excited for Marcus and Bill to meet my babies! One thing I remember is that Marcus immediately connected with Sydney. Syd was very ready to have someone’s full and undivided attention (she was still getting over the little bro invasion) so she had found her captive audience in Marcus! Marcus was all smiles, gentle, kind and genuinely interested in hearing all about the kids and our lives. It was such a fun visit because I got to share time with my parents in the company of their dearest friends – what a gift! It was so entertaining to hear the stories and the laughter that they all four exuded, there was definitely a lot of energy in that room and it was not all coming from the two small children! The friendship bond I witnessed there that day stayed with me. What a blessing in this life to have such a deep and everlasting friendship. I drove home so happy and so grateful that I got to see them all together and they got to spend time with young Syd and Mac. I remember Marcus laughing a lot and her smile was so bright! The picture here encapsulates the day through her beautiful smile and relaxed demeaner. We would all do well to live as she lived with a sunny outlook and a calm presence. I know I need a little more Marcus in me!
~Andrea Burrell
Friday Night Hamburgers
Our story with Marcus and Bill began in 1960 when Bill and Larry met at U of A. Marcus and Bill from Texas and Larry and Kay from Iowa. A friendship of 60 years started with Friday night hamburgers. We only lived in Tucson for two years but continued to get together over the years. Usually for a week-end half way between our homes. Marcus always provided a meal wherever we were…her special Subs in a park or pancakes in a motel room! One time we were meeting at our condo in Missouri. They arrived before we did from Iowa and Marcus had dinner ready when we arrived! It wasn’t always about food, so many good times shared with good friends. Marcus was always the calm, cheerful, never complaining one. She was always ready to go along with the plan (usually Bill’s!)
—Larry and Kay Unkrich
Friendships and Family
Growing up I always heard about the adventures of Marcus, Bill, Larry, and Kay. I loved hearing my grandparents talk about their lifelong friendship with Marcus and Bill and hoped I’d be so lucky to make friends that could be in my life forever too. Fresh out of college and living in Los Angeles, I was super excited to get an invite to visit the famed group of friends in San Diego. While I’m quite sure they thought it would be impossible to entertain a 21 year old, I had the best time watching their friendship right in front of my eyes. Upon arrival, Marcus made pancakes that I still dream about sometimes. We also explored San Diego, walked down the beaches of Coronado, ate Mexican food, talked about those crazy millennials, and went to bed early. I got to see another side of my grandparent’s life that I will cherish forever but most importantly I got to know their best friends, Marcus and Bill.
—Sydney Burrell