Marion Thorington Conover

Marion Thorington Conover, of Huntsville, Alabama, died Thursday, February 12, 2026, just one week short of her 90th birthday. She passed away after a brief illness, surrounded by her husband, children, grandchildren and their spouses.

She is survived by husband, John Conover; daughter, Helen Conover and her husband, Rob Minor; sons, John Conover, Jr., and his wife, Kelli Lammons Conover (all of Huntsville), and Jack Conover and his wife, Suze Kemper of Austin, Texas; and niece, Brooke Thorington of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was a loving grandmother to Kate Conover and her family Orli Nativ, Colin McGurk and Ericka Skirpan; Will Minor; Frankie Conover; Winter Conover and her husband Marco Garcia; and Kit Conover.

Marion was born in Montgomery on February 19, 1936, to Jack and Helen Brooke Thorington. She graduated in 1954 from Sidney Lanier High School. She attended Sweet Briar College in Virginia for two years, and graduated in 1958 from the University of Alabama, where she was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority, and where she met John, her husband of over 66 years. As a debutante, she was Queen of Montgomery's Mystic Order of Revelry New Year's Eve Ball in 1958.

Marion always worked to build community and connection and was a vital part of the glue that held her extended family together. She assisted in her children's classrooms and led their Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts troops. A lifelong Episcopalian, she attended some of the earliest sessions of Summer Camp at Camp McDowell and was an active member of St Thomas Church and the Church of the Nativity, helping with a variety of service and outreach activities. Marion was also a member of the Junior League of Huntsville and the Colonial Dames of America. She helped found Huntsville's LearningQUEST community for lifetime learning and was a member of the Happy Bookers and other book clubs. She was also passionate about animal welfare, sharing the family home with many fine dogs and the occasional cat over the years.

A celebration of Marion's life will be held Saturday, March 7, at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity. The funeral service will begin at 12:30 p.m., with a reception following.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you honor Marion by donating to Camp McDowell (https://campmcdowell.org/), the Marion Medical Mission (https://www.mmmwater.org/), or to your favorite animal rescue organization; smiling and connecting with others; or adopting a shelter pet.