SALINA — Brian E. Conner, M.D., 70, passed away Oct. 27, 2016. Born Jan. 27, 1946, in Great Bend he was the son of Fred and Helen (Opie) Conner. Brian graduated from Great Bend High School and participated with the Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a chemistry degree followed by a medical doctorate in 1972. While at KU, he met Ann Cushing, and they were married in Downs, in 1969.
Dr. Conner completed a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Iowa and then fellowships in cataract and retina surgery before opening his practice in Salina in 1979. With interest in rural healthcare, Dr. Conner had monthly satellite clinics in earlier years in Russell, Lincoln, Washington, Clay Center and Abilene. He was one of the earliest eye doctors in the Salina area to offer laser eye surgery.
In earlier years, Dr. Conner was a ham radio operator and worked with electronics and building his own sound equipment, which he used as a DJ at KU in the 1960s. An Eagle Scout in youth, he served as an adult scout leader in Salina Troop 214, traveling with his son to Philmont Scout Ranch and the World Jamboree in Holland.
Brian was preceded in death by his parents, his uncle Glenn Opie and a cousin, Bruce Conner.
Survivors include his wife, Ann, of Salina; son, David, of Denver, Colo.; brother-in-law, Bill Cushing (Mary); aunt, Sandra Opie Waknitz (Charles); cousins, Joan Conner and Bill (Diana) Conner, Jean Conner, Harlan (Kathy) Opie, Robin (Jen) Opie; nephews, Christopher (Angela) Cushing, Seth (Kittie) Cushing, Joel (Cassidy) Cushing; and many other relatives and friends.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday at Christ Cathedral, 138 S. 8th Street in Salina, with burial at 2 p.m. Saturday at Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Christ Cathedral, or the Coronado Area Council Boy Scouts, in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Ryan Mortuary**
137 N. 8th St.
Salina, KS. 67401
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 3, 2016