James Howard Connor

James Howard Connor, 93, of 365 Riverview Drive, Asheville, died Saturday, June 24, 2006, at his home. A native of Buncombe County, he was a son of the late Robert H. and Lydia Embler Connor. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Mae Couch Connor, who died in 2003; a son, James Robert Connor, who died in 2001; two brothers, Theodore E. Connor and Robert L. “Shorty” Connor and a sister, Loraine Connor. Mr. Connor was a long time resident of La Pine, OR before returning to Buncombe County in 2004. He was retired from Southern Railway where he worked as a switchman and more recently worked for the US Postal Service. Survivors include a daughter, Nancy Connor of La Pine, OR; three sisters, Mary C. Shaft, Reva Barker and Edith Slagle, all of Asheville; two brothers, William Connor of Pelzer, SC and Jack Connor of Knoxville, TN; five grandchildren, Barbara Couch, John Robert Connor, Tanya Connor, Shawn Connor and Lanae Ames; three great-grandchildren, Haley Connor, Johnny Connor and Ashley Couch. Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Wednesday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Ken Ingle officiating. Entombment will follow at Ashelawn Gardens Mausoleum. His family will receive friends from 7:00-8:30 pm Tuesday at the funeral home and request that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the National Eye Institute, Budget Officer, Building 31, Room 6A16, 31 Center Drive, MSC2510 Bethesda, MD 20892 or the American Cancer Society, 120 Executive Park, Bldg. 1, Asheville, NC 28801.