Conner, John Dowe Jr.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: CONN.J001
• _FGRAVE: 230086961
• Military Service: United States Air Force

Notes:

John D. Conner Jr., age 65, of Flora, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at his home.

He was born May 23, 1956, in Flora, Illinois, the son of John D. and Marilyn (Hoskins) Conner Sr.

John served in the U.S. Air Force, specializing in E.O.D. operations. He worked for Sledge Drilling for many years and loved oilfield work. John was very caring and was always helping others with handyman projects of all types. He had been part of the Flatlanders Motorcycle Club in the past, and especially enjoyed planting and tending to his tomato plants and spending time with Peabody the dog.

He is survived by a son: Derek Mitchel of Olney; grandchildren: Tristan Mitchel of Olney, Ian Davis of Clay City, and Roreigh Mitchel of Olney; 2 sisters: Cathy Sledge Kieta of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Julie (Kent) Acree of Flora; father: John (Mary Ann) Conner of Flora; stepbrothers: Donnie Sledge and Kevin (Deanna) Brown; stepsister: Vicky Evans; several nieces and nephews, cousins including: Pam Williams and Brenda Rinehart; and friend: Richard Bassett.

He was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather: Marilyn and Walter Sledge; and a sister: Elizabeth Ann Conner.

A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Military funeral honors will be presented at 7 p.m. Memorial donations are suggested to Fur a Good Paws or Clay County Cancer Crusaders and will be accepted through the funeral home.

Military Service:
John served in the U.S. Air Force, specializing in E.O.D. operations.

Buried:
Cremated. Specifically: Ashes given to family. No burial plans given.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Mitchel, D.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: CONN.J002
• _FGRAVE: 255926732
• Military Service: Korean War, United States Army
• Funeral: 3 Jul 2023, Frank & Bright Funeral Home, Flora, Clay County, Illinois

Notes:

John Dowe “Badeye” Conner Sr., age 91, of Flora, Illinois, passed away Tuesday night, June 27, 2023, at Flora Rehabilitation & Health Care Center.

He was born March 17, 1932, in Clay City, the son of Everett and Nica (Luke) Conner. He was united in marriage to Mary Ann Behnke on June 2, 1962, in Flora, and together they have shared 61 wedding anniversaries.

John proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He had worked for Dick Shaffer Oil and later owned and operated his own oil tank painting business. He enjoyed collecting and restoring antique kerosene and oil lanterns, tinkering around in his shed, and spending time with his grandkids.

He is survived by his wife: Mary Ann Conner of Flora; a daughter: Julie (Kent) Acree; 5 grandchildren, including special grandchildren: Gretchen Conner, Ian Acree, and Katrina Acree; 6 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son: John Dowe Conner Jr.; and siblings: Harold Conner, Lester Conner, Betty Pate, and Joyce Bissey.

A funeral ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 3, 2023, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery, Flora with the presentation of military funeral honors. A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Memorial donations are suggested to Disabled American Veterans (D.A.V.) and these will be accepted through the funeral home.

Buried:
Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery, Flora with the presentation of military funeral honors.

John married Hoskins, Marilyn I. on 23 Feb 1973. Marilyn (daughter of Hoskins, Clyde J. and Dudley, Pansy) was born on 22 Jan 1938 in Flora, Clay County, Illinois; died on 4 Dec 2010 in Clay County Hospital, Flora, Clay County, Illinois; was buried on 8 Dec 2010 in Elmwood Cemetery, Flora, Clay County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: HOSK.M001
• _FGRAVE: 62551096
• Funeral: 8 Dec 2010, Frank & Bright Funeral Home, Flora, Clay County, Illinois

Notes:

Marilyn Sledge, 72, of Flora, IL died at 11:35 AM Saturday, December 4, 2010 at Clay County Hospital in Flora.

She was born January 22, 1938 in Flora to Clyde J. & Pansy (Dudley) Hoskins. She married Walter Sledge on February 23, 1973 in Flora.

Marilyn was Vice President of Sledge Drilling in Flora and a member of the VFW & American Legion Ladies Auxiliaries and Flora Golf & Country Club.

She is survived by her husband: Walter Sledge; children: Donnie Sledge, Vicky Evans, John Conner Jr., and Cathy Kieta; twin sister: Carolyn Sehie; eleven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, special nephew Tim Sehie along with several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, son (Ricky Sledge), daughter (Elizabeth Ann Conner), two brothers (Clyde Robert & Stanley Hoskins), three sisters (June Trago, Melba Dulaney, and Faith Pugh).

Funeral services were held at Frank & Bright Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Evans officiating.

Burial was in Elmwood Cemetery, Flora.

Memorials may be made to Flora Little League and Flora Kiwanis.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: CONN.E001
• _FGRAVE: 18363905

Notes:

Everett Conner, 70, of Clay City, died at his home at 4 a.m. today.

He was born in Clay County May 3, 1903.

On Feb. 28, 1924 he married Nica Luke in Olney.

Surviving are his wife; two sons, Harold of Roscommon, Mich, and John of Flora; two daughters, Mrs. Betty Pate of Clay City, and Mrs. Joyce Bissey of Flora; 16 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; a half-brother, Shirley Conner, and a half sister, Mrs. Bertha Gregory, both of Olney.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, three brothers, and a sister.

Arrangements are pending at the Clay City Chapel of the Cardascio-Easley Funeral Home.


Taken from the Olney Daily Mail,March 30, 1974.

Everett married Luke, Nica Millie on 28 Feb 1924 in Olney, Richland County, Illinois. Nica (daughter of Luke, John Albert and Graham, Nella 'Nellie') was born on 25 Aug 1907 in Richland County, Illinois; died on 29 Apr 1989 in Richland County, Illinois; was buried on 2 May 1989 in Clay City Cemetery, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: LUKE.N002
• _FGRAVE: 18363902
• Funeral: 2 May 1989, Hosselton-Bookout-Engelmeier Funeral Home, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: HOSK.C001
• Military Service: World War I, Wagoneer, United States Army

Clyde + Dudley, Pansy. Pansy was born on 30 Apr 1898; died on 8 Mar 1973; was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Flora, Clay County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: DUDL.P001

L.D. + Smith, L.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: LUKE.J001
• _FGRAVE: 24056773

Notes:

Birth certificate #4714 file in Clay County, Illinois.

Note from Carl W. Gray, 23 March 2010:

The 1880 Census for Busseron, Knox County, Indiana shows him living with George and Barbara (Herrington) Wilson as a farm hand, but does NOT indicate any relation to them.

Was my previous information incorrect?

Was Barbara Herrington not his mother?

Hopefully, as I look at the earlier census reports, some of these questions will be answered.

In the 1870 Census for Busseron, Knox County, Indiana, John A. Luke is 9 years old living with George W. and Barbara (Herrington) Wilson. I'm convinced that my previous information was correct. Barbara is the mother of John Albert Luke.

John married Graham, Nella 'Nellie' on 27 Mar 1899 in Louisville, Clay County, Illinois. Nella (daughter of Graham, John Riley and Hornick, Rebecca Isabelle 'Bell') was born on 6 Jul 1880 in Knox County, Indiana; died on 9 Sep 1976 in Burgin Manor Nursing Home, Olney, Richland County, Illinois; was buried on 12 Sep 1976 in Clay City Cemetery, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Homemaker
• Reference Number: GRAH.N001
• _FGRAVE: 24056750
• Funeral: 12 Sep 1976, Cardascio-Easley Funeral Home, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois

Notes:

Mrs. Nella Mason, 96, of Olney, died at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at the Burgin Nursing Manor No. 1 in Olney.

She was born in Knox County, IN July 6, 1880, daughter of Riley and Rebecca Hornick Graham.

In 1899 she married John Elbert Luke in Louisville. He died in 1918.

She then married D. S. Mason in 1930 in Olney. He died in 1957.

Surviving are a son, John Luke of Clay City; five daughters, Mrs. Sylvia Ashbrook of Lawrenceville, Mrs. Goldie McDowell of Calhoun, Mrs. Nica Conner and Mrs. Grace McDowell, both of Clay City, and Mrs. Minda Pflaum of Noble; 31 grandchildren; 70 great grandchildren; 20 great great grandchildren.

She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Olney.

Services will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the Clay City Chapel of the Cardascio Funeral Home, with burial in Clay City Cemetery.

Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday.