Ora Sherwood Conklin

Ora Sherwood Conklin of Raleigh, NC, age 63, born on Sunday, July 1, 1962, in Bourne, MA, passed on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Duke Univ. Hosp., Durham, NC, with his sister Jeanne at his bedside. He wished to express his deepest gratitude to his sister Jeanne and cousin ("little sister") Laura for their loving care of him throughout his illness and battle against cancer. He gratefully thanks his long-time friend Marvin Moore of Zebulon, NC, who has looked out for him, standing strong as a brother who lovingly prayed for him, for long-time friend David McCord of Prescott, AZ, for listening, and for his new friend John, who transcended the role of CNA to a true caring caregiver.

Ora was preceded in death by his father Sherwood Francis Conklin and his mother Irma J. (Bailey) Conklin of Walden, NY, paternal grandparents Otto and Maude Conklin of Utica, NY, and maternal grandparents Ora David and Alma (Hough) Bailey of New Hampton, NY, and niece Kimberly Lynn Brown of New Windsor, NY.

Ora was survived by his daughter Felicia Conklin (fiancee Brandon Abdullah) of Walden, NY, his son Ora Conklin, Jr. of North Carolina, his grandson John Conklin of Orange County, NY (Mother Felicia), sister Irma-Jean (Conklin) Brown (Tessier) of Raleigh, NC, sister Marjorie Wallis (Conklin) LaRue (husband Robert) of Burlington, VT, cousin Laura A. Parris of Raleigh, NC, and nephew Alexander David Brown (wife Kandice), great nephew Lincoln Brown and great niece Aubrey Brown. He was also survived by cousins in New York, North Carolina, Texas, Delaware, and Connecticutt.

Ora attended Valley Central High School, Montgomery, NY, and Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, NC, for welding and electrical. Ora worked a variety of jobs over the course of his life with The Fresh Market having been his favorite. He enjoyed and cherished his coworkers, managers, and customers. Ora enjoyed cooking, gardening, sitting outside with his coffee watching sunsets, rain, snow and birds while sometimes listening to music, fishing, golfing, playing billiards/pool, card games, video games, tv/movies, monster truck and local car racing, was a member of a bowling league, and was an avid Mets Baseball fan and wrestling fan. Most of all Ora loved and enjoyed his family, and their pets; sometimes taking Alex's dog Polo for ice cream and always sharing his dinner with them. He developed a walk in faith, believing in Yeshua/Jesus, Father God, and His Holy Spirit. He was loyal, hardworking, smart and the kindest, gentlest, most loving man of peace with a sense of humor and a stubborn streak. He was an encourager, full of wise advice when asked, and was humble and grateful for those who helped him, especially his sister Jeanne, cousin Laura, nephew Alex, friends Marvin and Steve, and all his other friends.