Johnny Floyd Connor

Candler - Johnny Floyd Connor, 66, of 116 Sluder Branch Road, died Monday January 7, 2008 at his home. A native and resident of Buncombe County for most of his life, he had resided in Henderson County for 11 years. He attended Biltmore High School. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1980 following 20 years of service. He served 2 tours of duty in Vietnam and was a member of the D.A.V. and the VFW. He was also a member of His People Community Church of Candler, the Hillcrest Masonic Lodge #397, the Scottish Rite in Columbia, SC and the Jamil Shriners Temple in Columbia, SC. He was a former mail contractor with Owen Enterprises for the U.S. Postal Service and was employed with the U.S. Security. He was a son of the late William Thomas Connor, Sr. and Annie Mae Warren Connor and was also preceded in death by sister, Helen Connor Keever. Surviving are his wife, Mildred Rice Connor with whom walked with him to the rivers edge where there Jesus took his hand.; daughters, Marie Connor McCaw of Fayetteville, NC and Patricia Connor Messina and husband Pete of Candler, NC; son, Edward F. Connor and wife Regina of Sumter, SC; grandchildren, PFC Rachel Wright and husband Trevor, Stationed in Bagdad, Iraq, Debra McCaw of Florence, SC, Kayleigh Connor, attending Lander University in Greenwood, SC, Amber Messina of Fletcher, NC, Brandon McCaw of Florence, SC and Robert and Sean Connor of Sumter, SC.; great grandchildren, Katelynn and Taylor McPhail of Sumter, SC, Dylan Wingate of Fayetteville, NC, Jacob Messina of Fletcher, NC, Troy McCaw of Florence, SC and Alexis Brock of Fletcher, NC; brother, William Thomas Connor, Jr. of Fairview, NC; 6 nieces and 4 nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. Thursday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home with Pastor Emile Wolfaardt, officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park with Military rites by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team. The pallbearers will be David Jones, James Evans, Jason Tharp, Jeff Collis, Travis Brock and Tracy Rice. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to: Mt. Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813 or to: American Cancer Society, 120 Executive Park, Asheville, NC 28801.