Robert Charles Connor, Sr.
Robert Charles Connor, Sr., 80, of Crystal Springs, died Thursday, December 18, 2008 at St. Dominic’s Hospital.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Father Kent Bowles with the Reverends John Branning and John Bowie participating. Visitation services will be held from 5-8 pm at The Stringer Funeral home of Crystal Springs on Sunday, December 21. The Funeral Mass will be held at 10 am at St. John Catholic Church in Crystal Springs on Monday, December 22.
Mr. Connor was a Registered Forester in Mississippi and Georgia, and owner of Shelterwood Timber Service, where he served landowners as a consultant forester. He was a native of Omaha, Nebraska where he graduated from Creighton Preparatory School. He received his B.S. degree in Forestry at Iowa State University, and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Scholastic Honor Society.
Mr. Connor was a veteran of the U.S. Army, a student of history and politics, a member of the Catholic Faith, and especially proud of his Irish heritage. Mr. Connor was a lifetime member of the Society of American Foresters since 1952, and a member of the Mississippi and Copiah County Forestry Associations.
Mr. Connor formerly resided in Eufaula, Alabama while employed by W. C. Bradley Company, and later relocated to Hazlehurst, Mississippi where he began his career with Edward Hines Lumber Company.
Mr. Connor is survived by his wife, Mary Emily Connor, his daughter, Rebecca Ann Connor of Crystal Springs, and sons, Robert Charles Connor, Jr. and wife Laura of Butler, Alabama, and Terrence Cochrane Connor and wife Gina of Redondo Beach, California. His step-children include Randall Sykes Berry and wife Paula, Gregory Arnold Berry and wife Lisa, and Shannon Littell Berry.
Other survivors include his brother, Edward M. Connor and wife Mary Ann of Omaha, Nebraska and his sister Margaret Ann Moore of St. Louis, Missouri.
Grandchildren are Colleen Louisa Connor, Robert Charles Connor, III, McCaleb Liam Connor, Bridget and husband Larry Lee with son William Gavin Lee, Colby Randall Berry, Mary Catherine Collins, Casey Jackson Collins, and Christian Lee Collins.
Memorials may be made to St. John Catholic Church in Crystal Springs or St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Hazlehurst. A tree planted in his memory would be a fitting memorial to a life dedicated to an infinite love of God’s creation