| Birth: | Dec. 20, 1897
Burlington
Chittenden County
Vermont, USA | | Death: | Feb. 8, 1974
Worcester
Worcester County
Massachusetts, USA | 
PARENTS: Wesley Anthony Conner was the son of Wesley Wells Conner born at Essex, Vermont, and Rhoda Jay Fredette
born at Whallonsburg, NY.
MARRIAGES: Wesley A. Conner was married three times. His first marriage was prior to 1920, wife unknown. His second marriage was to Eva Dora White. They married NOV 27, 1922, Spencer, MA., and had a son named Dana Lewis Conner. Wesley had another son named Calvin Russell Swallow in 1923 with Bertha Agnes Swallow. His third marriage was to Eleanor Anna Cave. They married MAY 31, 1925, East Brookfield, MA. They were married 49 years, and had two children together... Richard Alfred Conner and Jeanette Louise Conner.
OBITUARY:
NEWSPAPER: Evening Gazette (Worcester Co., MA)
DATE: FEB 9, 1974, PG. 28
HEADING: Wesley A. Conner: Helped Raise 43 Foster Children.
BARRE - Wesley A. Conner, 76 of Walshburn Road died last night in Worcester City Hospital where he had been a patient 10 days. He was the husband of Eleanor (Cave) Conner. He was born in Burlington, Vt., son of Wesley W. and Rhoda J. (Fredette) Conner, and lived here 43 years. He was employed as a machinist for the Charles G. Allen Co., before retiring in 1964. He was a member of the National Rifle Association, the former Unitarian Church Association, and the Foster Parents Association. After raising two children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Conner began caring for foster children in 1958. In 16 years, they raised 43 foster children. Besides his widow, he leaves a son, Richard A. Conner of Morovian Falls, N.C.; a daughter, Jeanette, wife of William Ahearn of Grafton; two brothers, James H. Conner of Sutton and Frederick Morris of Auburn; a sister, Elizabeth, wife of Lyle Leland of Templeton; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Snyder & Britton Funeral Home, Summer Street. The Rev. Francis Kelly of the Barre Congregational Church will officiate. Burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Calling hours at the funeral home are 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE by Bradford L. Miner
DATE: NOV 1970
THE EVENING GAZETTE, SPENCER BUREAU
STATE: MASS
72-Year-Old Is Crack Shot
BARRE - At 72, Wesley A. Connor of Washburn Road is a great-grandfather - and still actively hunts deer. Connor's latest efforts were rewarded with a 170-pound doe he took last Saturday morning in Richmond, N.H. with a single shot from his 30.06 rifle. Connor, a hunter since the age of 14, has taken 20 deer in his native state of Vermont and 18 deer in Massachusetts. A 190-pound eight point buck was Connor's largest kill in this state. Connor attributes his skill to his father and grandfather who were "the best hunters in the state of Vermont." When at home, Connor does most of his hunting in the Nichewaug area of Petersham but notes that in recent years the deer in this area have become quite scarce.
Makes Own Shells
A member of the National Rifle Association, Connor is self - sufficient in that he makes his own shells and molds his own rifle bullets. Connor said that in all the years he has been hunting he has never used a scope, but relies exclusively on open sights. He said that by the time a hunter gets a deer lined up in the crosshairs of a scope, he could have it down with the open sight. His wife Eleanor, the first woman hunter in Barre, no longer actively hunts, but has five kills to her credit. Mrs. Connor is a firm believer in asking permission of property owners, before hunting on private property. She recalled that once young Leonard Bentley and a companion were coon hunting on the Connor property. It seems that Len told his companion he'd better ask the Connor's permission ... he said Mrs. Connor has a .38 - and knows how to use it.
Don't Stalk
Both Mr. and Mrs. Connor said that when they are hunting they rarely stalk an animal, but as in the case of deer, find a good "run" and set up a shot from 30 yards off the run, out of sight of any approaching animal. Connor prides himself on taking most of his game with only one shot. Connor said that his latest kill came after a 15-minute wait in such a position. He said he had positioned himself in a stand of hemlock some 75 yards from a brook and deer run. He was ready when the large doe came at a gallop across his line of sight. He stopped it with one shot as it leaped across the brook. He added that the kill was easy compared with the 3/4 mile walk back to the car, with the carcass in tow. Connor's activity is not restricted to hunting, however. He cuts and splits all the maple that is burned in the Connor's wood-burning furnace.
Want's a Bear
For some years, this method of heating has provided a warm home for the 40 foster children that he and his wife have cared for. Under the auspices of the state Division of Child Guardianship the Connors have provided a home for children from the age of 4 days to three years, or until the child is adopted. In addition the Connors have 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild of their own. Connor is not sure just how much longer he'll be hunting, but said he'd like a shot at a grizzly in British Columbia, and is set for the opening of Mass. deer season the first week in December. When this reporter left the Connor home, Connor's hound "Buddy" was faithfully stationed beneath the carcass of his master's latest prize, guarding it against all intruders.
Family links:
Children:
Dana Lewis Conner (1923 - 1960)*
Richard Alfred Conner (1926 - 2009)*
*Calculated relationship
| | | Burial:
Worcester County Memorial Park
Paxton
Worcester County
Massachusetts, USA
Plot: Section: Garden of Gospels, Lot #47. Grave #1 |
Created by: Melody Edwards
Record added: Nov 18, 2006
Find A Grave Memorial# 16702691 |
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