Peter J. Conway, age 95, a resident of the Meadows in Glen Ellyn, IL, and formerly of Sandpoint, ID, Jacksonville, OR, and Yorba Linda, CA, died Saturday, June 27, 2009 at home. He was born April 7, 1914 to Scottish immigrants who nine years earlier migrated to the gold mining town of Cripple Creek, CO.

He enjoyed his involvement in the Boy Scouts of America where he became an Eagle Scout. His many accomplishments with the Scouts included wood carving, and bugling. He once played his bugle from the top of the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Peter's family moved to Los Angeles. At the age of 17, he carved a totem pole which was displayed at The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

During the Depression years, he carved women's costume jewelry, which at times provided the family's only income. In the 1930's, he earned a sporadic $20 a day carving Scotty dogs at a time when $18 a week was a respectable wage.

Peter continued earning his way by carving custom window displays for department stores and balsa-wood headdresses such as large birds for Hollywood shows and laminating wood patterns for metal casting. Eventually, he became the lead man assigning work for aircraft test models.

He was an avid horseman. He loved horses and horseback riding. Later he started developing his specialized craft of carving carousel horses. His passion kicked in again, and he began studying the masters of what was then a fading craft. Soon, a parade of horses began to emerge from his workshop.

He sold most of the horses he carved to private collectors. On occasion he restored antique horses, and he enjoyed the thrill of bringing an old horse back to life.

He was also an accomplished musician, playing the keyboard, piano, accordian, bugle, trumpet, banjo, and the guitar. He loved performing and sharing his love for music with others.

He was actively involved at his local church wherever he lived.

He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 54 years, Doris; two children, Bonnie (Don) Bovey of Wheaton, IL, Rusty Conway of Maui, HI; four step-children; four grandchildren, Timothy (Lisa) Bovey and Daniel (Jody) Bovey, Chelsea Conway and Kegan Conway; and four great-grandchildren, Ruth, Micaiah, Madelyn, and Peter Bovey.

He was preceded in death by his son, Gary Conway; two sisters; and a brother.