John E. Conner

John E. Conner passed away quietly at home on August 13, 2024, at the age of 98 in Lacey, Washington. Born in 1925 in Lake Arthur, Louisiana, John had a happy family life with his parents Edward Conner and Ola (Trahan) Conner and his 11 siblings. They spoke Cajun French in their home; when John started primary school he didn’t know how to speak English nor did the schools teach it, so he had to learn it on his own. He didn’t truly start to understand his assignments until 6th or 7th grade. John loved his mom very much; she was the center point of the family. She was a gardener, and he enjoyed working alongside her.

John was a scrapper in his youth and tried to join the military two times - but at 105 lbs he was too light to be accepted. In World War II he was drafted, however, and he served in the Navy on a minesweeper. While always seasick in calm, gentle swells, he was one of the few who were unaffected in a typhoon.

After the war he married Juanita Hoffpauir and they had three children together; Miles, Cheryl, and Mark. They knew him to be a truly decent man and a good dad, and they loved him dearly. He always tried to build them up and be a safe port in the storm for them. He set a good example as a spiritual man and did his best to strengthen his children’s faith in God. John also set an example as a hardworking man; as a welder he eventually became a foreman at a chemical plant, sometimes pulling 16 to 20-hr shifts to support his family.

Many years after his marriage to Juanita ended, John met and eventually married Helena Callender, who fit his now quieter personality. He fondly recalled sitting next to each other in their comfy chairs, reading together. They were both mild and patient people; John often bragged about them never having had a fight.

Baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness in July 1970, John was devoted to the Christian ministry and loved helping people learn how to apply Bible teachings. He was well-respected in his congregation and known as someone who was always welcoming and loving. If he saw someone he didn’t know walk through the door, he would take the initiative to approach them and get to know them. John was the kind of person who people felt comfortable talking to and asking for help with their problems, and he was known for taking a fatherly interest in younger ones and encouraging their spirituality. As John and Helena aged, their congregation wrapped their collective arms around them and supported and treated them like family, which was much appreciated by John’s children who lived far away.

A few years after Helena passed, John’s health declined and he moved to Washington state to live with Mark and his wife Nikki. Despite his health problems, John was always a source of positivity and encouragement. He was also delightfully funny and sassy. John and Mark were always teasing each other, looking for every opportunity for a good dig. Mark was grateful for the time he had to reconnect with his father while caregiving. They loved to sit out on the porch in the sun together, sipping coffee and chatting. Mark appreciated how at the end, even though being completely bedridden, John would never complain; he always showed gratitude, love, and kindness.

The world was a better place with him in it, and John will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

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Survived by his children Cheryl and Mark, his grandchildren Bolden, Ashley, Irisa, and Tegan, 8 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by his parents Edward Conner and Ola (Trahan) Conner, his 11 siblings, his son Miles, and his wife Helena.

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Memorial to be held:

Saturday, August 31, 2024

2:00 PM Central Time (12:00 PM Pacific Time)

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses

401 S. 22nd Street

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Memorial to be shown live online for friends and family unable to attend in person.