John E. Conner 1939 - 2020

ELLINWOOD — John E. Connor, age 81, of Ellinwood, Kan., died Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kan. He was born July 18, 1939, in rural Barton County Kansas to Robert E. and Aurelia (Schugart) Connor. 

He grew up in Hoisington, Kan. and was a 1957 graduate of Hoisington High School.

After high school he entered The Oratory in Rock Hill, South Carolina.  In 1961 he joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in the United States, Germany and Turkey. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Emporia State University. He lived in the Kansas City area for a number of years, and was a Social Service Worker and counselor, working with the youth. He then moved back to the Great Bend, Kan. area and retired from the Larned State Hospital. The last four years he has been a resident at the Woodhaven Nursing Home in Ellinwood, Kan.

Survivors include two sisters, Loretta Ulrey, Logan, Kan.; Barbara Lehning and husband, Mike, Logan, Kan.; two brothers-in-law, Leonard Ehrlich, Great Bend, Kan.; Reuben Flagor, Hoisington, Kan. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Robert Connor and Jim Connor; three sisters, Margaret Ehrlich, Jean Flagor and Mary Lou Komarek.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions a private graveside service and inurnment will be held at St. John’s Cemetery in Hoisington, Kan. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Woodhaven Nursing Home in care of the mortuary. Services are entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. Condolences can be sent via e-mail to clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net or can be left at guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays 

1919 East 22nd Street 

Hays, KS 67601

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Oct. 2, 2020