Mary Ellen Wilsey

She was born in Ogdensburg on Sept. 19, 1941, the daughter of Alfred “Trader Al” Conway and Emma Hare. Mary Ellen attended Lake Placid Central Schools and made an earlier career in the dining and hospitality industry.

Mary Ellen married her husband on Sept. 22, 1979, and enjoyed a second career as “The Boss” at Phil’s business, Cascade Electric. She loved being at “the shop” and greeting the customers who would come in.

Mary Ellen loved people. She and Phil enjoyed many close friendships with people from near and far.

Mary Ellen especially enjoyed cruising through town with Phil, sometimes accompanied by her daughter and grandchildren, and would always need to stop and say hello or wave to someone she knew and loved. They frequented the AuSable Inn in Keene Valley (affectionately known as “Down Below”) and developed so many close relationships with friends there and in the community that were like family.

There are too many to name that she deeply loved and cared about. Mary Ellen is survived by her husband Phillip Wilsey, her daughter Penny Schmidt (Hal), and her son Robert “Bobby” Bruce and stepsons Aaron Wilsey (Jane) and Rory Wilsey (Stacie). Mary Ellen also leaves behind her brothers Pudge Conway (Kelly) and Tony Conway, brothers-in-law John Wilsey (Debbie) and Gene Wilsey (Linda), and sisters-in-law Linda Rivenburgh and Sandra Swartout. Mary Ellen enjoyed her grandchildren, who all lovingly referred to her as “Gam”: Kelsey Bickford (Dan), Jessica Lieberth (Cody), Nicholas Wilsey, Bryan Wilsey, Daniel Wilsey, Nicole Wilsey, Jessica Steenburg (Jim) and Tiffany Schmidt. She loved seeing pictures and videos of her great-grandchildren: Rory, Reid, Zekey, Coby, Daisy, Sadie, Heidi and Jimmy, with another boy on the way. Mary Ellen had many other very special relationships with nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews: Courtney, Erin, Margaret (Robbie), Daemon, Camden, Bodie, Luke, Jonathan (Amanda Jo), Mackenzie (Amber), Rebecca (Cody), Jennifer, Nikki, Laurie and Brian. Mary Ellen had an abundance of close friends whom she kept in touch with and made a part of her life, treating them all like family.

Mary Ellen was predeceased by her parents, her mother- and father-in-law, her brother Lewis Conway (survived by Cindy) and her son Gregory Bruce. She was also predeceased by her stepmothers Johanna and Mary Jane.

Due to increasing COVID-19 concerns, no services will be held at this time. A memorial and celebration of her life will be held at a later date, to be determined by family. Phil and Mary Ellen will be laid to rest together in a couple’s urn, per Phil’s wishes.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary Ellen’s memory to the Lake Placid Volunteer Ambulance Service and Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department. The M.B. Clark Inc. Funeral Home in Lake Placid is in charge of arrangements. Relatives and friends are invited to share a memory, upload a photograph, or leave condolences at www.mbclarkfuneralhome.com.