Howard Bryce Conkey Jr.

Mr. Conkey was born June 20, 1931, in Norton, Kan., the son of Bryce and Lola Conkey. He attended Kansas University. He lived in Lawrence before moving to Brownsville in 1976.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. He was a 50-year member of the American Legion and was active in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Lawrence. He was granted one of the earliest certificates as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor in Texas. He was co-owner of Family Connection until the time of his death. He was active in his profession for 28 years, having held offices on a national, state and local level.

Mr. Conkey was a member of Peer Assistance Committee of the National Assn. of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors and was instrumental in refining the alcohol and drug certification process in the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals. He founded Valley Association of Addiction Professionals in the early 1980s and was recognized as counselor of the year by the organization in 1986. He helped introduce the Palmer Drug Abuse Program to Brownsville and was honored by the program at a special recognition dinner in 2001. He served on boards at Pan American University-Brownsville, Midway House in Harlingen and Regional Alcohol Council Advisory Committee.

He married Joan Worley on Aug. 1, 1955, in Lawrence. She survives.

Other survivors include a daughter, Zahra Abdul-Jami; a brother, Harlan Conkey; a sister, Helen Johnson; two grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

A daughter, Teresa Kay Conkey, died earlier.

The family suggests memorials to Wilson House, P.O. Box 46, East Dorset, VT 05253.