Ellen “Marguerite” Jackson Conner, 83, of Tifton passed away Friday, September 27, 2019. She was in the loving presence of her two daughters and her older granddaughter. Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 3, 2019, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Stephen Norris officiating. Mrs. Conner will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, October 2, 2019, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Marguerite was born March 5, 1936 in Berrien County to the late Joel Davis Jackson and Valentine McKuhen Jackson. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Charles Kenneth Conner, Jr. Raised Southern Baptist as a girl, she grew up in Brookfield and loved to ride her bicycle, walk along the railroad tracks and play outside with her sister. Living on a farm, though, meant farm chores, such as picking cotton, working in tobacco and picking and putting up vegetables. In her high school years, Marguerite was a member of the 4-H Club, the Tri-Hi-Y Club and the girls basketball team, then known as the Lady Angels. She met the love of her life in the winter of 1953 and they married that summer.
Marguerite spent the next 17 years as an Army wife. She was a stay-at-home wife and mother for the most part but did work for WTIF Radio during the time her husband was gone to Korea, as part of a MAG, Military Advisory Group. She also sold Avon, taught Sunday school and was a substitute teacher. Upon her husband’s retirement from the Army in 1970 and moving back to Tifton, she worked several jobs as a secretary/bookkeeper. Her last job was with the State of Georgia, where she earned the position of Senior Secretary for MidStep, an alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility. She retired after 18 years, having a very positive impact on the clients and staff. She mentioned quite a few times that clients would frequently remark about her sunny disposition, always assisting them with a smile. She also shared her faith freely, when asked why she was always so happy.
Her hobbies included sewing, cooking, crocheting and working in the yard. Aside from her family, gardening was her passion. After working a full day, she would get in the yard after supper during the summertime and work until dark. She said it was her therapy. Every night before bed, she read her Bible. She very much looked forward to family vacation time every year, either to the Smoky Mountains or to the Atlantic beaches.
The final months of her life, she and her family were so very grateful for the care given to her by Hospice of Tift Area and Cypress Pond Senior Care, allowing her to live at home with her family.
Marguerite is survived by two daughters, Janet Lynn Conner of Tifton and Deborah Jean Conner of Essex Junction, Vermont; three grandchildren, Andrew Stephen Lott, Allison Conner Lott and Anna Kathryn Lott; one sister, Dorothy Jackson Cameron; one sister-in-law, Katherine Conner Hancherick; and one brother-in-law, James Krultz.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Tift Area, 618 Central Avenue North, Tifton, GA 31794.