Ray “Butch” Conner, Jr passed away peacefully at home on December 8, 2025. He was born on July 18, 1945 to Ray and Davinia Conner, the second of ten children. He married the love of his life, Beverly Conner, on March 22, 1975 and they have five wonderful, loving children.
He graduated from Lake Arthur High School in 1963 where he played football and ran track. After attending McNeese State University for a couple of years, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he proudly served from 1965-1969 during the Vietnam War. He specialized in cryptography and codes. After the Navy, he worked many years in the oil field, Northrop Grumman & security before finally retiring.
Ray loved time with his family, cooking, fishing and especially hunting for turtles to make sauce piquant and making homemade salsa. He loved making jokes and people laugh. He loved his Saturday rides where he’d listen to Cajun French music on KJEF. He served as an usher at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, where he was named Knight of the Year in 1984. He loved cooking for the annual Food and Fun Festival.
He is preceded in death by his parents Ray and Davinia Conner, son-in-law Daniel Penn, sister Barbara Whitman, brother Gerard Conner and brother-in-law Howard Whitman. He is also preceded by his grandparents Virginia and Oday Conner, Amanda and Elas Meaux, Abraham Davison Jr, brother-in-law Jimmy Trahan & nephews Johnny Gerard Conner and Brian Theunissen.
Ray is survived by loving wife of 50 years, Beverly Conner, who never left his side. His children Rhonda Atkinson, Leanna Conner, Bradley (Maghon) Conner, Eric (Heather) Conner and Anna-Lee Sonnier. His grandchildren Taylor Burrell, Torrie Burrell, Tessa Burrell, Gabriel Penn, Alexis Atkinson, Kaydence Sonnier, Holden Conner, Karson Sonnier and Nicholas Johnson. He also has numerous grand fur babies
He is also survived by his siblings George Kenneth (Charlotte) Conner, Steven (Shyrel) Conner, Brenda Trahan, Imelda (Ronald) Guidry, Thomas Conner, Clarice (Leonard) Bonin, Carole (Stephen Theunissen, sister-in-law Diane (Ricky) Venable, brother-in-law James Broussard, sister-in-law Annette (Tim) Savoy and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will welcome the public for visitation at Hixson Funeral Home of Welsh on Sunday, December 14, 2025 from 5pm until 8pm with a Rosary at 6pm. Visitation will resume on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 9am until a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Seven Dolors at 11am. Burial will follow St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery in Lake Arthur.
