With deep sadness the Conway Family shares the passing of Peter William Conway. In prayer, Peter journeyed to his Lord and Savior in everlasting peace February 23, 2023. Peter lives on through a large loving family who will miss his love, silly humor, happy spirit, and full-on passion for life. Also known as P.W. Conway and Cactus Pete, he gifted all with his cowboy poetry.
Born March 14, 1945 in post-war Los Angeles, Peter grew up an original surfer, living the beach boy experience in Manhattan Beach. Peter lived life fully, thoroughly immersing himself into whatever his passion was at the time: tennis, snow-skiing, water-skiing, golfing, community theater, history and writing.
Delving to live his Scottish roots, Peter volunteered for Highland Games and Festivals, often running the children’s caber toss event in full pleated kilt.
P.W.’s favorite passion, all things historically cowboy, developed when he rescued a horse named Wanda Jean. P.W. took this passion to pen and wrote three buckaroo poetry books.
A docent at the Simi Valley Historical Strathearn Park, P.W. belonged to several western reenactment groups, and traveled the country to share his cowboy poetry. He often performed with the Western Music Association (WMA) at the Gene Autry Museum in Los Angeles.
Peter successfully worked as a job recruiter for many years, then had a calling to become a hospice spiritual counselor. He brought joy and comfort to many hospice patients and their families and reveled in the camaraderie of his amazing Thousand Oaks Assisted Hospice team. As a veteran himself, Peter especially supported veterans in hospice.
P.W. thrived as a cowboy poet and hospice spiritual counselor during the last decade of his life while bravely facing his increasing health challenges. Navigating Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and cancer, P.W. cowboyed up, living his motto, which is a testament to all: “I focus on the things I can do, not on the things I can’t.”
You will be missed Peter.
Rest in His peace.
Happy new trails, P.W., until we meet again.
Donations can be made to the Conway/Shoumaker Fund, St. Mary’s Academy
- By check mail to: St. Mary’s Academy, 701 Grace Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301
Attn: Office of Advancement
Name Fund on memo line
- Online please visit:
https://tinyurl.com/mry8ef8x
Click 'Select a Fund'
Thank you!