Conard Dayton Tenney, age 86, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 14, 2023.
Dayton was born August 23, 1937, in Hemlock, WV, a son of the late Conard and Florence Scott Tenney and was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He was a brother to the late, Willis, Basil (Chick), Denley (Benny), and Preston (Don) Tenney and five sisters, the late Willa Leigh, Freda (Mazie) Currence, Zelma (Sissy) Currence, Irene Olenick, Kathleen (Poochie) Tenney and Creta Fern Tenney.
Dayton is survived by one sister-in-law, Carolyn Tenney. Dayton was first married to Phyllis Gooden Tenney who survives; they had two children, Melanie DeVonne Tenney LeBlond and John Russell (Rusty) Tenney. He was next married to the late, Georgia Fowler Lee Tenney. He became a step-father to Shirley Lee Chidester, Brian Lee, Christine Faith Lee Zirkle and Junior Lee. Upon Georgia’s death, he raised two of his step-grandsons, Chad and Josh Zirkle.
He then married the late, Lucy Kowoski. On February 10, 1996, he married the late, Barbara A. McCoy Burner Tenney. Barb passed away on September 25, 2023, and Dayton was broken hearted. He was stepfather to Nancy Burner-Ware, Becky Sands and Mark Burner. He is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.
Dayton went to work at the young age of 16. In 1953, he first went into logging in the woods at Queens and Hemlock for Upton Mace & Sons and Ruth Bell Lumber Company. In 1957, he started working in the mines for Hackers Creek Coal Company. Later working for Badger Coal and Beth Energy before retiring in March 1995, as a Mechanic from Rauer Coal Corporation.
Dayton was a member of the United Mine Workers Association and a member of the Union Chapel Church on Buckhannon Run Rd., where he had taught Sunday school and held other positions in the Church until his health kept him from attending. He had also attended various churches in Ingo and Buckhannon.
Dayton was a lover of Bluegrass Gospel Music and had a band “Buckhannon Mountain Bluegrass Gospel”. He and the members of this group played at many local churches for special events, revivals and other community functions.
Friends will be received Tuesday, December 19, 2023, from 5 PM to 8 PM at the Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held 11 AM Wednesday at the funeral home with Pastor Holly Hoover officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Olive Church Cemetery in Hemlock.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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