Verlin A. Conner, 77, of Tygh Valley, a Halfway native, died March 15, 2007, at his home surrounded by the things he loved.
There will be a celebration of his life at 1 p.m. Friday at the Tygh Valley Community Center.
Verlin was born at Halfway to Albert and Alberta Conner. He grew up in the Baker area and was a Union High School graduate.
At Union High School he was known as “Pee Wee Conner” on the football field. He was small, but mighty.
He worked for the Pondosa Lumber Mill for many years where he met and married Lavina P. Slinkard. They moved to Kinzua in 1958 to work for Kinzua Corp., at the small lumber town of Kinzua. Verlin loved Kinzua, for all that a small town can offer.
In 1978, Kinzua Corp. shut down and he and his wife found another small town the grew to love, Tygh Valley, a community of friendly and caring people. He worked for the Mountain Fir Lumber Co. until he retired in 1992.
Verlin was a man with many interests. He loved hunting, fishing, golfing, bowling, gardening, rock hounding, archery, jewelry making, square dancing, playing guitar and banjo in a country western band, and later in his life, winemaking.
He was known for being a “gentle” man, a gentleman and a kind and respectful person.
Survivors include his son, David Lovell, and a daughter, Verla Benson, both of Albany; grandchildren, Chris and Matt Lovell and Jamie, Casey and Soni Benson; four great-grandchildren; three sisters, Nellie Turner, Rosemary Howerton and Shirley Stoddard; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lavina Conner; his parents; three brothers; and two sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tygh Valley Pioneer Potlatch, P.O. Box 111, Tygh Valley, OR 97063 or Wamic Senior Bus Inc., P.O. Box 324, Wamic, OR 97063.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, March 21, 2007
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor