John Louis Conner, Sr. of Newport, Arkansas, departed this life on Friday, June 24, 2022, at the age of 97. He was born June 6, 1925, in Augusta, Arkansas the son of William Emerson Conner, Sr. and Martha Evaline Campbell Conner.
He was a 1943 graduate of Newport High School and earned an accounting degree from the University of Arkansas. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and a United States Air Force veteran, serving during World War II.
He married Mary Alice Holden on November 22, 1947. Together they made their home in Newport. Throughout their 71 years together, they were active community members, raised their three children and enjoyed watching their family grow.
He was well-respected in the Arkansas business community, specializing in farming operations, commodity trading and real estate. He possessed a great drive and work ethic that he passed to his children. Mr. Conner was instrumental in creating the infrastructure active in the Holden Conner Companies and was active in the business for over 75 years.
He was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Newport, where he served on the finance committee for several years.
He enjoyed duck hunting and was an avid reader. He also loved gardening and tending to his wife’s roses.
He will forever be remembered for his work ethic, devotion to his wife and his love of family.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Mary Alice Holden Conner on July 4, 2019, one son Robert “Bob” Holden Conner on November 24, 1985, and his parents.
He is survived by one son, John L. Conner, Jr., and wife Andrea of Newport; one daughter, Mary Alice “Sissy” Conner Alleger and husband, Rob, of Ft. Worth, Texas; seven grandchildren: John L. Conner, III, Michele Sutherland, Jeanne Conner, Mary Alice Conner, Richard Windsor Humphrey, Robert Conner Humphry and Alice Hefner. Mr. Conner had eleven great-grandchildren: Grace Conner, Caroline Conner, Sophie Sutherland, Chloe Sutherland, Alexander Galindo, Louis Noto, Harrison Noto, Robert Humphrey, Ellen Alice Humphrey, Holden Humphrey and James Hefner.
The family would like to extend their most sincere appreciation to Mr. Conner’s caregivers: Denitra Ross, Shirley Gist, Cindy Ray, Ruth Brown, Bessie Western and Kamby Brown.
Friends may visit at Jackson’s Funeral Home on Monday, June 27, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm. Funeral services are at 10:00 am Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at the First Baptist Church of Newport. Interment will follow in Walnut Grove Cemetery.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Win Humphrey, Conner Humphrey, Carroll Huskey, Thurman Walker, Greg Peavy, Eddie Green, Bill Landreth and Matt Mullins. Honorary pallbearers are Brouce Holden, Jim Reid Holden, Charles “Bobby” Holden, and Randy McNeil.
To leave a message of condolence, or sign the guest register, please visit our website at www.jacksonsfh.com
