Ernie Eugene Connor

Retired USN CDR Ernie E. Connor went to be with our Lord and Savior on 22 May, 2014. CDR Connor was one of our nation's heroes and has a place in history alongside many other heroes. He served over 30 years in the Navy and was known as a leader, a man of principal and integrity and also for his love of life and sense of

humor. He loved flying and piloting his own plane. He enjoyed golfing with his buddies and was known for his annual parties and many golf tournaments from which he donated proceeds to the Hemet Elks and breast cancer research.

He was highly decorated during his years of service and was particularly honored to have served aboard the USS Hornet where he helped coordinate the pick-up of the first Astronauts to step foot on the moon from Apollo 11 and 12 moon missions. He was instrumental in guiding air traffic in and out of combat zones in Viet Nam while in the Gulf of Tonkin. He traveled all over the world by air, land, and sea. After his military retirement he worked for a number of years as a military consultant until he decided he just wanted to spend his time golfing and flying. As a testament to the man he was, over these past few weeks people he worked with and those he led from all parts of the US have contacted family to share personal stories of how he touched their lives as a leader, a teacher, a fellow comrade, and a friend.

He was the 6th of 7 children born to Grace A. Johns and John T. Connor in Manchester, Kansas on Dec 8, 1929. Only 2 of those 7 are still living and they are Ada Connor in Boise, Idaho and Betty Knoll of Hemet. His 2 living children followed in his footsteps to serve their country. His oldest, Kathy, was a Major in the Army Nurse Corps and is now a Hospice RN in Hemet and his son Michael followed along in his field and after retiring from the Navy is now a FAA Manager at the Palm Springs Air Traffic Control Tower. Kathy, and Mike and his wife Jeannette live in Hemet.

His first marriage was to his high school sweetheart Helen Maxine Collins who is the mother of his children. He was last married to and widowed from his beloved best friend, Carol Lynn. He leaves behind 3 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Tori and her husband Jaime of Hemet are the parents of his great-grandchildren Christina Mikayla, Ceriah, Jazlyn, and Jayla. Troy his grandson lives in Hemet and Tessa, his granddaughter lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. He loved and leaves behind his nieces Shirley, Brenda and Nancy and nephews Denny and Tommy and that love was mutual.

He recommitted his life to the Lord a number of years ago and his greatest desire was that someday all of his family and friends would experience the same personal relationship of comfort and assurance in eternal life through Jesus Christ.

He was blessed to have wonderful people in his life. The family is so grateful to have had caring people who became his friends in helping him be independent in his own home to the end. Daniel Dominguez and his family, Pete Medina, and Gabriel Villalba were literally gifts from God. Angels from Inland Empire Hospice where his daughter works supported him being at home the final days of his life. The family is so grateful to Nurses Tonya David, Julie Throne, and Valerie Wylenbeck, Massage Therapist Carol Moyer, CHHA Penny Hudson, Chaplain Mark Ruybalid, and MSW Roger Anthony.

Dad, thank you for your life, your love, and your legacy,

Kathy and Mike