Obituary: Julia Catherine Conway Cherry

Share this post or save for later

11/25/1926 – 11/23/2025
Lawrence

Julia Catherine Conway Cherry died very peacefully and with grace Sunday, November 23, 2025. She was born November 25, 1926, in Moline, Kansas to Anna Brogan Conway and Michael John Conway. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bracey H. Cherry, Jr, her baby daughter, Elizabeth Ann, her granddaughter, Lisa Vojtech, and daughter-in-law, Connie Cherry.

Julia graduated high school from Mt. Carmel Academy, Wichita, Kansas in 1944.

After graduation she returned to the farm to help her father with harvest while her three brothers were in the South Pacific during WWII. Later, while working as a nurse’s aide at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, she met and soon married her husband just back from the Navy. They were married 51 years until his death in 1997.

They had eight children. Julia is survived by her five sons Robert Cherry, Hastings, MN, Joseph Cherry, Florence, MS, James Cherry, Ellsworth, KS, Paul Cherry, Indian Market, SC, Frank Cherry, Bonner Springs, KS and two daughters, Alice Cherry, Lawrence, KS, and Nancy Newby, Platte City, MO. She is also survived by daughters-in-law Diane Cherry, Molly Cherry, Mary Beth Cherry, Kaye Cherry, and son-in-law, Mark Newby.

Julia had eighty grand, great-grand, and great-great- grandchildren. The afternoon before her sudden illness she held her eightieth grandchild. Her neighbors, Tim and Janelle Ballew are family also.

Julia was a beloved member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church. She served as a Sacristan, volunteered to prepare funeral meals, and took care of the altar linens. She also volunteered at St John’s Rummage House for twenty years.

When Julie was no longer able to do these things, her ministry became tending to the many Church candles.

She treasured and kept the friendships she made at each site.

Julie attended daily Mass, her Rosary group, her bimonthly Pinochle Card group, coffee groups, numerous family and neighborhood gatherings.

She enjoyed a very full life. Julie attributed her exceptional longevity to her love of family, her deep faith, and her many friends. She was well loved by all who knew her.

Julia maintained her independence in later years thanks to family, friends, and Senior Rides of the Lawrence Senior Resource Center. She kept sharp and engaged by reading her newspaper and prayer books, working on puzzles, playing cards at Perkins with her Pinochle friends. And importantly, kept her hair looking great thanks to Risé at Designers Salon.

Our family thanks the Lawrence Emergency Services for prompt and professional care of our dear Mother. Many thanks to the nurses, CNAs, and physicians at Lawrence Memorial Hospital Emergency Department, the 2E area, Palliative Care, and Visiting Nurse Association Hospice. The level of compassion and kindness these professionals maintain is exemplary.

Services will be held at Corpus Christi Church Friday, December 5, 2025, with 9:30 am Visitation, 10:15 am Rosary, 10:30 am Funeral Mass.

Burial Services will be December 6, 2025, at 1 pm, Mt Olivet Cemetery, Moline KS

Memorial contributions to Lawrence Just Food or Lawrence Senior Resource Center and may be sent in care of the mortuary.

The services can be viewed at cccparish.org please click on livestream liturgies.


Note: We are offering Lawrence and Douglas County community members space to publish remembrances of loved ones who lived in this community, free of charge. These pieces are submitted by family and friends of the deceased and not written by our staff.

We are glad to be able to offer this service free to community members in mourning. We believe the last thing our neighbors need in those difficult moments is another financial matter to worry about. Please consider a paid subscription to the Times to help us continue providing this service and news access for all.

To submit an obituary to The Lawrence Times, please fill out the form at this link. We’re sorry, but we cannot accept obituary submissions via email or other means.

If you are interested in sponsoring obituaries on our site through advertising, please email us at ads (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com.

Read other obituaries here.

Previous Article

Lawrence’s Bizarre Bazaar draws holiday shoppers; local art market reopens Saturday

Next Article

Obituary: Michael ‘Mike’ R. Bray