Mary Ellen DeCenzo Conlee, age 94, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away Thursday, May 18, 2017. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Mary was born in Coleraine, Minnesota, on July 31, 1922 to the late Peter DeCenzo and Elisa Voce DeCenzo. She grew up in her hometown of Bovey, Minnesota, and moved to Kentucky after she married Ralph Burton Conlee of Stanton. They lived in Stanton, Lexington, and Richmond, Kentucky, and moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1963. They returned to live in Stanton in 1979 and moved back to Tennessee in 1987. Ralph and Mary were married for 70 years. Mary enjoyed doing volunteer activities at her children's schools and at her churches throughout the years. She was very involved in the development of Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church in Stanton. She also enjoyed working in retail clothing stores in Kentucky and Tennessee for several small independent businesses. Mary was such a loving and caring person. She touched so many lives and was very much loved by her family and friends. Mary was preceded in death by her parents Peter and Elisa DeCenzo; brother, Alfred Peter DeCenzo; son, Garry Burton Conlee; and her husband, Ralph Burton Conlee. Mary is survived by her daughter, Barbara Dee Wilhoit; son-in-law, Mac Wilhoit; brother and sister-in-law, Eugene "Pete" and Beverly DeCenzo; grandsons, Rick Wilhoit, Mike Wilhoit and wife Loren, and Tim Wilhoit; granddaughter, Elisa Crawford and husband Matt; great-granddaughters, Harper Wilhoit and Emilia Crawford; great-grandson, Cooper Wilhoit; and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Debbie Bruce and Mary Davis for their loving care for Mary, Ralph, and Garry. On Saturday, August 12, 2017 the family will receive family and friends from 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at Hearne Funeral Home, 125 West College Avenue in Stanton, Kentucky. A prayer service will follow at 12:00 P.M. with Father Al Fritsch, S.J. of Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church officiating. Burial will follow at the Stanton Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, 1093 East College Avenue, Stanton, Kentucky 40380, at which Mary had the privilege of attending. Hearne Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
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