Homer L. Connell

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Mr. Homer L. Connell was born Feb. 29, 1924, in Ridgely, Tenn., to Jim and Emily Connell. He died March 15, 2011. He was preceded in death by his wife of over 50 years, Jean Connell.

He was a Navy veteran and worked for McWaters Motor Company where he earned the number one ranking in his region and number seven in the national for Buick sales. He then went to Bob Sullivan Chevrolet/Cadillac where he ended up sales manager for many years. He left there and purchased Gay Amusement Company and operated it until his retirement.

He loved the American Legion and was very active on a local and state level. In his 62 years of membership, he served as commander of Post 24 and went on to become state commander of Arkansas in 1976.

He was appointed by then-Gov. David Pryor to chair the committee that designed license plates for the veterans of Arkansas who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

He was a member of the North 10th Street Baptist Church and was a mason for 50 years.

Mr. Connell was always ready and willing for a hearty conversation, from politics to sports. He much loved his family and they all knew it. He will be greatly missed.

He leaves seven children including four sons, Homer Gene Connell and wife, Remy, of Hot Springs, Jimmy Connell and wife, Judy, Richard Connell and wife, Cindy, and Ronnie Connell and wife, Beth, all of Blytheville;

Three daughters, Shirley Lapa of Blytheville, Judy Bynum of Magnolia, Texas, and Janet Sawyer and husband, Jim, of Olive Branch, Miss.; and

Twelve grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Cobb Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.