Gary Lee Conquest, 80, of Columbus, MS, passed away on April 16, 2024 at his residence.  The visitation will be Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS.  The funeral service will follow at 3:00 PM at the funeral home with Tim Childs officiating.  Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery with Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Mr. Conquest was born on July 12, 1943 in Seattle, WA to the late George Deamer and Maude Fortune Conquest.  He started a newspaper route in Seattle, WA when he was 5 years old.  At age 12, he moved to the country and started living with different families while working on their various farms.  When he was 16, he moved in with and started helping Al and Marilyn Walker on their dairy farm in Stanwood, WA.  They helped him attend college, until he decided to join the Navy, where he spent the next 4 years.  He then married Patsy (Wright) of York, AL after knowing her for only 2 months, and they were married for over 58 years.

Mr. Conquest was an electrician and worked at American Can Saw Mill in Bellamy, Alabama.  Then, he worked at General Tire for over 42 years.  He previously was a deacon at Columbus Church of Christ, and was a current member of Caledonia Church of Christ.  He was a former member of the East Columbus Lions Club, and was a former member of the Caldwell Sports Boosters, and drove the bus for the Caldwell Band and Soccer Team.  He loved to help people however he could.  Mr. Conquest was a great father who raised his sons to be hardworking men.  He loved playing with his grandchildren, as well as all the children in the neighborhood.

Pallbearers will be Andrew Conquest, Bryant Conquest, Zac Conquest, Will Conquest, Nick Smithey, Bryan Cox, Bryan Elmore, and Blake Koenigsberger.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Walter Bolton, Joyce Edgeworth, Dorothy Banks, Tim and Betty Childs, Danny Weathers, Russ Taylor, Mary Perkins, Kenneth and Jackie Smith, and Jerry and Melanie Werner.

Special thanks to Dr. Rincon-Prieto and Joy Murphy, N.P, for their loving care.

Gary is survived by: his wife Patsy Luanell Wright Conquest; his children: Greg (Akiko) of Zushi, Japan; Jeff (Suzanne) of Amana, IA; Richard (Melissa) of New Albany, MS; and Billy (Mindy) of Vinemont, AL; his grandchildren: Andrew of Atlanta, GA; Bryant of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Pam (Nick) Smithey of New Albany, MS; Zac of New Albany, MS; and Will of Vinemont, AL. He is also survived by his siblings: Florence Childs of Kent, WA; Janet (TL) Cannon of Seattle, WA; George Conquest of Seattle, WA; Howard (Pat) Conquest of Seattle, WA; and Sharon Bosteder of Auburn, WA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Caledonia Church of Christ Youth Fund, P.O. Box 9, Caledonia, MS 39740.