Conley Siddoway Thatcher

Obituary for Conley Siddoway Thatcher
June 4, 1929 - May 12, 2021
Conley Siddoway Thatcher, beloved husband, father, grandfather and rocket scientist, died on May 12, 2021, in Provo, Utah, just short
of his 92nd birthday, from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. He
was born on June 4, 1929, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to John Kenneth
Thatcher and Alice Harries Siddoway. He was a lifelong member of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was married to
Joan Harris on July 16, 1960, in the Logan, Utah, Temple, until she
passed away in 1980. He then married Jane E. Appling on September
13, 1980, in the Los Angeles Temple. They celebrated their 40th
anniversary last year.
Conley grew up in Sugar City, Idaho, working on the family potato
farm with his Dad and younger brother, Gordon, caring for their
cows, horses, chickens and the massive potato fields. Once the
chores were finished, he spent a carefree childhood swimming in
the irrigation canals, building and flying his model airplanes and
having adventures with his buddies. He even tipped a few
outhouses, much to the dismay of his father, who promptly made
him apologize and set them back up with his co-conspirators! He
always wanted to become a pilot and earned his pilot’s license at 16!
Sadly, his inability to cross his eyes prevented him from becoming a
pilot in the United States Air Force.
He was a popular and respected young man and was
Valedictorian of Sugar Salem High School in 1947. He served as
Class President his junior year and as yearbook editor his senior
year. He attended Ricks College prior to serving his church mission
in the Western Canada Mission (which encompassed British
Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta at the time). Decades later, he
and Jane returned to Vancouver Island to learn that the children of
the families he had baptized were now serving in bishoprics and the
Stake Presidency!
Following his mission he enlisted in the United States Air Force
during the Korean War. After extensive training, he was assigned to
the elite Strategic Air Command as a maintenance crew chief on the
Boeing B-47E and the Boeing B-50D airplanes that he loved. After his
Honorable Discharge in 1957, he attended the University of Utah
where he was President of Delta Phi fraternity and in 1960, earned
his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. His
dream was to move to California and work in aerospace and he
accomplished that. He worked for General Dynamics, Hughes
Aircraft and transferred to North American Aviation, Space Division,
in Downey, California, which later became Rockwell International.
This gave him the opportunity to work the entire Apollo program
that sent our astronauts into orbit and then to the Moon. At his
50th high school reunion, he told his classmates that he wanted to
send a man to Mars in his lifetime! He almost made it—having
retired just 10 years ago at 81 years old!
Conley continued his stellar career when the Boeing Company
purchased Rockwell International, Space Division. He became an
expert in materials and processes for the Space Shuttle program,
developing the vital materials for the Thermal Protection System
(the tiles and insulation for the Payload Bay doors among others).
He spent 50 glorious years doing the work he loved. He was
admired and revered by his fellow engineers, received numerous
accommodations, and in 1987, was nominated as Rockwell
International's Engineer of the Year. He was honored to receive
four United States Patents for the materials he helped develop for
the Shuttles. He always said, “I have my fingerprints on every
shuttle!” having worked on every orbiter mission. His worst
moments were when Challenger exploded shortly after launch and
when he walked into the hangar that contained all the recovered
parts of Columbia that had burned up upon reentry, killing the
entire crew. He said his knees just buckled and he couldn’t help but
cry.
Conley was an avid and accomplished skier his whole life. He was a
member of the Air Force Ski Team and could conquer any Black
Diamond slope he could find! He continued skiing with Joan and
later with Jane at Mammoth Mountain in California, Alta in Utah,
and Banff, Alberta, Canada, until his Parkinson’s prevented him
from doing so. He never got over the sadness of not being able to
ski again.
He loved classical music, opera, country western, and the big bands
he danced to as a young adult at Lagoon Dance Hall in Utah. Name
a song and he could tell you who composed it! He leaves an
extensive collection of records by these musicians. Throughout his
life, he designed and built model airplanes and loved flying them.
For many years he was the Rocketry Merit Badge counselor for the
Boy Scouts of America in Orange County, California.
He was an avid reader, enjoying Conservative political authors,
Louis Lamour, Vince Flynn, M. C. Beaton and Harry Potter. He read
all four standard works every year, and was Stake Sunday School
Superintendent, High Priest Group Leader, taught early morning
Seminary, Gospel Doctrine, his High Priest Quorum and served as a
counselor in the Bishopric. He was a devoted Home Teacher and
Ministering Brother until his health prevented him from serving. He
was also an accomplished photographer and loved documenting
family activities and vacations.
Conley is survived by his wife, Jane, his four children Sarah Joan
(Gale) Taylor, John Conley Thatcher (Amy), Rachel Jane Loveridge,
from his first wife, Joan, and Kaitlyn Joy (Erik) Nystul with Jane; six
grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, his two younger sisters,
Laurel Thatcher (Gale) Ulrich, and Layle Erickson; and his adoring
dog, Gracie.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his younger brother,
Gordon Thatcher, Joan and his grandson, Gale Scott (“Scotty”)
Taylor.
Funeral Services will be held this Saturday, May 22, at 11:00 a.m. at
the Daniels Chapel, 2285 S. Daniels Road, Daniel, Utah 84032. A
viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:30 - 10:45.
The service will be broadcast via Zoom. There will be
no interment as he will be cremated and remain with Jane.
Those who wish to join by zoom, please use the following link
http://zoom.us/j/8012624631