Reginald Reagan Connor Jr.

Reginald Reagan “Reg” Connor, Jr., age 90, passed away on June 13, 2025, in the Walnut Grove community of Smith County, Texas. He was born on May 14, 1935, in Henderson, Texas, to Reginald Reagan Connor, Sr., and Sararose Cardwell Connor.

Visitation will be at 5-7pm, Tuesday, June 17 at the Tyler Memorial Funerial Home; and Reg’s Celebration of Life, will be held at 2pm, Wednesday, June 18 at the Tyler Civic Theatre. Honorary pallbearers will be Adam Boyd, Harrison Connor, Kelly Gallagher, Michael Gideon, Brian Knutzen, Dale Rice, and Aaron Tolbert.

Reg was raised by Reagan and Sararose in Whitehouse and in Tyler, Texas; and he attended the Gary and Hogg schools in Tyler before graduating from Tyler High School in 1953.

Reg joined the US Navy in 1954, where he attained the rating of Chief Quartermaster. He served in the Navy on active duty, and then in the Naval Reserve until 1968, during which time he became a veteran of the Korean War. Reg always said that his experience in the Navy changed his life. After leaving the Navy, Reg attended Tyler Junior College and then continued on to The University of Texas to earn his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.

After college, Reg continued his government service as an engineer at E-Systems (now Raytheon) in Garland, Texas from 1962 to 1978. At E-Systems, Reg worked for the Army Security Agency as a US Army civilian, GS-14, from 1964 to 1966; and then for the National Reconnaissance Office, from 1966 to 1978.

Reg married Sarah Ann McNatt in 1967, and the couple had two sons, Sean and Craig. In 1978 Reg left E-Systems to build a homestead for his young family in the Walnut Grove community near Whitehouse, Texas. Reg worked as a consulting engineer in private practice, from 1978 to 1987. Reg served on the Board of Directors of the East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind from 1979 to 1987, where he served as the Treasurer and Vice Chairman. Then in 1987 Reg joined the staff of the Lighthouse as Vice President, and he stayed until his retirement at the end of 2009. Reg loved helping the blind and visually impaired clients achieve independence and empowerment, and he shared in their camaraderie, joy, and dedication.

In his spare time, Reg enjoyed gardening, projects on his farm, live theatre, music, and researching genealogy. Reg served on the Tyler Civic Theatre Board of Directors from 1990 to 2020, and he produced or co-produced at least nine shows at the theatre, eight of which were musicals. Reg was a member of The Sons of the American Revolution, The Sons of the Republic of Texas, and he was a Life Member of the Texas Exes.

Reg was preceded in death by his parents, Reagan and Sararose Cardwell Connor; his brother, Charles Harrison Connor; his sister, Linda Rose Connor Knutzen; his aunts and uncles, J. W. and Lorea Conner, John Owen and Jimmie Conner, Mary and Allen Senter, Alta and John Cardwell, Eula and Howard Itten, Ruth and Dudley Cardwell, and Julia and Lou Bloomquist, as well as his cousin Scott Conner.

Reg is survived by his wife, Sarah; son, Sean Connor, and son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Angie Connor, Tyler TX; granddaughter, Ali Connor, Ludlow KY; grandson, Riley Connor, Whitehouse TX; grandson and wife, Aaron and Margo Tolbert, and great-grandson, Tyler Tolbert;, Houston TX and granddaughter and husband, Brittany and Michael Gideon, great-grandchildren, Brentley and Paislee Gideon, Lindale TX; niece, Christine Connor and husband, Kelly Gallagher;, Austin TX nephews, Harrison Connor, Dallas TX, and Brian Knutzen and wife, Andrea, and daughter, Blakeley, Trophy Club TX.

His family and friends will always remember him as a loving and supportive husband, father, grandfather (“Papa”), uncle, cousin, and friend, who was generous with his time and talents; and he was honest , very intelligent, conscientious, principled, held high standards, and loved unconditionally. He cherished his family and loved family gatherings.

The family expresses special gratitude to Hospice of East Texas, Oak Brook Nursing Center, Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital, as well as the doctors, nurses, and staff of each, all throughout his life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Hospice of East Texas, Tyler Civic Theatre Center, or East Texas Symphony Orchestra.