ConaLee "Connie" Gaffney

            ConaLee (Wilkinson) Gaffney was born in Portland, Oregon on May 6, 1935.  She was blessed with loving parents, grandparents, and a big brother with whom she shared many happy childhood memories.  She attended several grade schools with time out for surgery at the age of 11.  Subsequently, Connie graduated from Cleveland High School and then attended Brigham Young University for nearly two years beginning in September 1953.  She left college to marry and could hardly wait to start her own family.

            Connie was blessed with three healthy, intelligent, beautiful, and loving children.  Kevin was born in December 1956 and later graduated from Franklin College in Journalism and Political Science.  He went on to marry Eileen and they have two beautiful children, Frances and Ben.

            Twenty months after Kevin was born, Kirk arrived.  He later graduated from Oregon State University and then served a two-year mission in Chile, where he met his wife, Erica.  Together, they have three lovely children, Jason, Connie, and Allen.  Kirk later received his master’s degree at Brigham Young University and his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley.  He taught 14 years at Illinois State University and 18 years at BYU-Idaho and served as Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in both places.

            One year and two weeks after Kirk was born, Connie was blessed with a beautiful baby girl, the only granddaughter in the Wilkinson family.  Kelli attended Hillsboro High School and Cleveland High School, where she showed a great interest and ability in Speech.  At a speech contest held at Portland State University, she received the first-place award.  Kelli went on to marry and gave birth to two beautiful girls, Trudy and Holly.  She later remarried and had a beautiful baby boy, Joey.

            Connie had lasting childhood memories.  On one occasion, she and her brother Clynn sold hot dogs, punch, candy, and gum from the kitchen table in front of her house.  They did such a whopping business that the authorities told them to get a license or take the table back into the kitchen, which they did.  At another time, her father and grandfather bought a truckload of apples that Connie and Clynn sold.

            Connie soon learned how many decisions and problems come up as a parent.  She was a single parent for several years.  Although things were tough at times, she managed to get by with the love and support of her parents and children, to whom she was greatly indebted.

            Connie remarried on August 16, 1969, and moved her family to Aloha, Oregon. They lived there for 8 years before moving to Beaverton, where they lived for 3 years.  During that time, Connie managed restaurants before getting her license in real estate, which she practiced with great success for approximately 10 years.  In retirement, she made many wonderful friends at the Market Street Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

            In retrospect, Connie believed that God had been good to her, and she had no complaints.  She always prayed for the health and happiness of her children and grandchildren.  Above all, she was grateful to God for her heritage and the many blessings that come from having wonderful parents and relatives like the Wilkinsons and the Petersons.