Lou Eva Conner

Asheville Lou Eva Deitz Conner, 90, of 21 N. Pershing Road, passed away Thursday, July 9, 2009 at the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center. A native of Jackson County, Mrs. Conner had resided in Asheville since 1945. She retired in 1976 after working for Ace Manufacturing, Sales Bleachery, and several other manufacturing companies as a seamstress. Her favorite pastimes were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and her garden. Mrs. Conner was greatly admired by her friends and neighbors as a compassionate, gentle, and determined woman. She was a charter member of Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School. Mrs. Conner was the daughter of the late John Burch and Ida Beck Deitz, and the wife of the late Mark C Arnold Conner, who passed away Aug 13, 1991. She was also preceded in death by a great-granddaughter: Olivia Nicole Hellmann; three brothers and three sisters. Surviving are her daughter, Eva Graham of Atlanta, GA; three grandchildren: Dianna Hellmann of Alpharetta, GA, Brian Graham of Atlanta, GA and Mark Graham of Kennesaw, GA; seven great-grandchildren: Alex Hellmann, Abigail Hellmann, Amanda Graham, Amelia Graham, Angelina Graham, Conner Graham and Sophia Graham; brother, John Ford Deitz of Sylva; and a sister, Ila Rae Deitz of Sylva. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM Saturday at Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Green Hills Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-9 PM Friday at the Anders-Rice Funeral Home.