GARY LEE CONNER

Gary Lee Conner, age 71, of Ottawa, Kan., passed away July 3, 2009, at his home.

He was born Dec. 21, 1937, in Ottawa, Kan., the son of Ralph H. and Myrtle Evelyn (Masquat) Conner. His parents later divorced and Ralph married Clara Kruger who raised Gary and his siblings. He grew up in the Ottawa area where he attended schools and graduated from Ottawa High School in 1956.

Gary enlisted in the U.S. Navy in the fall of 1956, where he was a hydraulic mechanic, second class. He was honorably discharged in the fall of 1960.

He was united in marriage to Janice Griffin; they later divorced. He married Delma Whitt; she passed away in 1998.

Gary worked for the Kansas Department of Transportation.

He was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Ottawa and a proud member of the Kickapoo Indian Tribe. He enjoyed the outdoors and loved to hunt and fish. He also enjoyed reading and listening to classical music.

Gary is survived by his daughter, Julie (Conner) Hall, and her husband, Bill, of Ottawa, Kan.; his brother, Carl Conner, and his wife, Jo Ann, of Ottawa, Kan.; his sister, Eileen Burris, and her husband, Harold, of Elma, Wash.; five grandchildren, Sydney Hall, Destry Hall, Mykyla Hall, Jayden Hall and Ashley Sumrall; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mr. Conner was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Irene Kassa and Norma Blanco; and a brother, Loren Ralph Conner.

A memorial service will be  7 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at the Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, 325 S. Hickory St., Ottawa, Kan. Private family inurnment will be at a later date at the Chippewa Indian Cemetery near Ottawa, Kan.

The family will receive friends before and after the service from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bea Martin Peck Animal Shelter and sent in care to the Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa KS 66067. Online condolences may be shared with the Conner family at www.lamb-roberts.com and www.ottawaherald.com