Rita Jo Conner
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Funeral services for Rita Jo Conner, 81, Eudora will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary – Eudora Chapel. Burial will follow at Paola Cemetery in Paola, KS. She passed away Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at Select Specialty Hospital in Kansas City, KS.
Rita was born October 1, 1933 in Paola, KS the daughter of Leonard J and Mary Erma (Cutting) Oyster.
She was a member of the Eudora United Methodist Church.
She married Dale E. Conner November 2, 1952 in Paola, KS. He preceded her in death August 20, 1996.
In 1966 Rita and her husband, Dale bought their own truck line, Conner Truck Line, and was in operation until Dale passed away. Rita worked at Byrnes Pharmacy in Eudora until her death.
Survivors include one son, Ronald Conner and wife, Charlene, Omaha, NE; one daughter, Debra Conner Pennington and husband, Kevin, Eudora; five grandchildren, Matthew Conner, Alaska, Crystal Conner Gipson and husband, Robbie, Wamego, KS, Courtney Pennington, Berryton, KS, Megan Pennington, Eudora, Ryan Pennington, New Mexico; and two great grandchildren, Casen Heider and Adeline Gipson. She was preceded in death by her parents and her three sisters, Eleanor, Mary Alice and Loree.
The family will greet friends from 6 – 8 p.m. Friday, February 6, 2015 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary – Eudora Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the American Cancer Society and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
My deepest sympathy to your families. I will miss seeing Rita at the pharmacy. She was always a nice lady. Prayers for you all.
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for the family
This is such sad news to hear. Rita was always so nice & helpful when I worked for Apple & used Byrne’s pharmacy to fax in my expense reports each week. I used to joke & tell her that the pharmacy was my Northern Apple office and my house was my southern Apple office. She was always happy and would always tell me about her kids & grandkids who were my age. She always had time to talk to you & to be a great friend. My very deepest condolences to her family and many friends.
Such a sweet, wonderful woman! I used to go to the pharmacy with my allowance as a young girl, and she always helped me pick out a gift for whoever I was buying for, and would throw a card in every time too, saying it was included because she knew I never had enough money to cover it, I once saw her take change from her own pocket to pay for it!!
Rest in Peace and love in Heaven Miss Rita!! You will be missed!!
Prayers to her family & friends!
So sorry for your loss, She will be greatly missed. Very special lady.
Rita Jo was my first cousin. We stopped at the Pharmacy on our way from Sabetha to Paola to visit Mother. She had a special laugh! She will be missed.
I am so sorry for your loss. I used to see your Mom at the Pharmacy when I would go pick up stuff for my Dad and she was always interested in what I was doing and where I was living, etc. She always made the conversation about me, never about her. She will be missed by everyone, but know she was a special person. My prayers and thoughts are with your entire family.
Jean Anne and I are so sorry to hear of cousin Rita Jo’s passing. She was always such a spunky and positive person and showed interest in all the people she met.
I know her immediate family will miss her most of all.
This is so sad.
You always had a smile for everyone. You will be greatly missed. Prayers to your loved ones.
Rita always had a smile on her face at Byrne’s such a sweet, wonderful woman Rest in Peace and love in Heaven!You will be missed!!
Prayers to her family & friends!
Rita Jo was such a positive and caring person who had a smile that lit up many rooms. I always enjoyed every minute I spent with her. My wish for her entire family is to have great memories and God’s peace.
Debra & Family: My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Rita was an amazing woman, wife, mother, and grandmother. She is a very special soul that always had a smile. A face that lit up like a Christmas tree when you mentioned her grandchildren that she was so very proud of. Love to you all ~Andrea & Katherine
Prayers for the family. We will miss Rita and her smile. Thanks for being a friend. Bill and Mary Lou Hamlin
We are so very sorry for your loss, both her family and her work family at the pharmacy. She always had a smile a somthing nicel to say. Loved taking to her about her family. Rita we will miss you so very much!!! What a very special lady!! Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Ron, sorry to hear about the loss of your Mother.
Your family will be in our Thoughts and Prayers.
The Prebyl’s
Debra, so sorry to hear the loss of your Mother. I always liked visiting with her…My prayers for you and your family. Shirley.
To the Conner Family,
I am so Sorry for Your Loss!
She will be deeply missed by so many including me !
I know just from dealing with her for the last decade or longer she always had a smile on her face and we would always have a joke or two for each other!
In some ways she was like a second Mother to me at times ! I remember one time I went into Byrnes RX to get some Visine and she said Mark let me see your eyes! I gave her a closer look and she said you better go se a doctor and she was right!
I will truely miss her and Byrnes RX and Eudora, Ks will not be the same without her!
All my best wishes for her and your family!
Mark Nicolay
Rita was an absolutely loving, wonderful, caring, compassionate woman who loved her family. She made the visit to the pharmacy a pleasant experience, I always walked out”feeling” a little better. She always had a kind word of encouragement and I would get my “Conner Update”. My kids will always remember specifically dropping by her house to trick or treat for Halloween. She usually had a special treat for them like a box of animal crackers or something. She has left a legacy of all the good qualities you would want in a friend in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. All of whom are great people. I know I have been blessed to be able to call this family my friend. My prayers go out to the Conner Family during this time.
Debbie & Ron: My deepest sorrow is with you and my prayers for your Mom as I move down the interstate doing what your Father loved. Your Mom and Dad always had time for me. I think of them often. “God Bless”.
I just found out about this today (2/9/15) and am heart sick to hear this. Rita was such a wonderful person – so kind and pleasant to everyone she met. This is a real loss for not only Ron and Debra but to everyone who knew her. My deepest sympathy to Ron, Debra and their families.
so sorry for your loss, I know what it is like to lose a loved one, my prayers are with you and your families, I didn’t use Barnes Pharmacy but every time I saw her she was always smiling and a nice thing to say about everyone.