Harold Keith Conner, 82, of Marion, passed away Friday, September 30, 2011 at Valley Health Care Center in Chilhowie. The youngest of five children, he was born on May 16, 1929 to the late David Willis and Mattie Snider Conner. Devoted husband, loving father and proud grandfather, he lived his entire life on the family farm in Smyth County. From an early age, he developed a passion for farm life, running the family dairy with his father and later transitioning to cattle farming. He was also a loyal employee of Southern States in Marion for 18 years, delivering fertilizer to virtually every farm in the local community and serving their farming needs until his retirement in 1986. Born with natural mechanical ability, he could repair almost anything and enjoyed working on Massey Harris tractors and other farm equipment, as well as home carpentry when time allowed. A devout Christian, he was a longtime member of Marion Baptist Church, serving as both Deacon and Sunday School teacher for many years. He was a treasured husband and father who was dedicated to family life, raising four children with June, his high school sweetheart and wife of almost 60 years, and later enjoying 11 grandchildren. As a cancer survivor for 20 years, he was strong in body, character and spirit. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Fred Conner and Ralph Conner. Survivors include his wife, June M. Conner; his children and grandchildren, Robert Keith Conner and Jeannie Conner, of Marion and Sarah Fine, of Erwin, Tenn., Joey Conner, of Bristol, Jake Conner, of the home, Claire Richardson, of Staunton, and Hunter Anderson, of Marion, Annette Conner Strickland and Steve Strickland and Lauren, of Roanoke and Drew Strickland, of San Francisco, Calif., Carol Conner Halsey and Bryan Halsey and Becky, Leah and Ben Halsey, of Brownsburg, Ind., and Richard Timothy Conner and Mary Conner and Erin Grace Conner, of Roanoke; sister, Thelma Foglesong, of Marion; brother and sister-in-law, Marvin and Bonnie Conner, of Bowie, Md.; sisters-in-law, Alice Conner, of Marion, Mildred Ballard, of Mississippi, and Mildred Mason, of Bristol; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive visitors at Seaver-Brown Chapel, Monday, October 3, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Marion Baptist Church with Dr. Mark Ross officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Marion Baptist Church, 1258 N. Main St., Marion, VA 24354. The family would like to thank the staffs of Smyth County Community Hospital, Valley Health Care Center, and Hospice of Southwest Virginia. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is serving the Conner Family.
Published in Roanoke Times on October 2, 2011