Ann Morgan Conn

- - Ann Morgan Conn (neé Selma Anne Morgan) died of natural causes on Friday, December 14th at age 85. Born in Atlanta, Georgia on the 22nd of August, 1933, Ann was the daughter of Thomas Newton Morgan II and Selma Wacker Morgan. She was preceded in death by her loving parents, her brother Thomas N. Morgan III, her third child Richard Newton Conn, and her second husband Erling Hansen.

She will be missed and remembered by her first husband Richard Conn, with whom she joyously reunited in her last years, their four children, sons James (Jenelyn), Michael (Nick), and daughters Nola (Ion), and Silvia (Bruce), her daughter-in-law Maria, grandchildren Gina, Philip (Jaimie), great grandchildren Jaden, Isabella, Angelo and Zac, her sister-in-law Anne, nephews Tom, Billy, Charlie and Jeff, nieces Ellen and Jodi, and their respective families.

The family would like to thank her caregiver and dear friend Mary as well as Mahalia and Tawanda for their compassionate kindness to Ann. Thank you to the kind nurses and CNAs at Westminster Oaks' Bertrand Health Center.

Ann was a founding member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church and a longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee. She participated in Toastmasters International and Gulf Winds Track Club.

Ann was a poet and freethinker above all else, but a renaissance woman in her many interests, which included nature, history, civics, social justice, archaeology, photography, playwriting, art, science, humanism, and the search for meaning.

Ann was fearless. She travelled from Tallahassee to Los Angeles alone when she was 16 to visit her aunt, she camped out alone in the Apalachicola National Forest seeking solitude and quiet, and she raised four teenagers on her own while teaching English and Reading to underprivileged students in Georgia and Florida. She held a Master's Degree in Speech Communication from Florida State University, a Bachelor's in English from FSU, and graduated from Leon High School in 1951.

Ann—master of the English language, profound wit, devoted mother, steadfast friend, published author, and effective educator, will be long remembered and forever loved.

A memorial celebration of Ann's life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 2:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Big Bend Hospice or the Unitarian Church of Tallahassee.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Tallahassee Democrat from Dec. 23, 2018 to Jan. 6, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Ann Conn

How you can show support

Get email updates whenever changes are made.

Send flowers

Consider sending flowers.

Add photos

Share their life with photo memories.

Plant trees

Honor them by planting trees in their memory.

Donate in Memory

Make a donation in memory of your loved one.

Share this page

Invite other friends and family to visit the page.

Miriam Gretsch Killoran

December 23, 2018

In my heart this morning, I can see our mothers sitting together and talking up in heaven. Their heads are bent together and they are having coffee, a slice of a cake they've made, and they are laughing uproariously. They were always laughing together, because that's what kindred spirits do! They shared a deep love of language and of literature and ideas. They found solace and meaning in literature through the most joyous and heartbreaking times in their lives and shared that with each other.
My earliest memory of your mom was when I was in Kindergarten at the Developmental Research School. It was Circus Day. We had had a field trip to see the FSU Flying Circus and it was a day in which we were to come to school dressed as members of the circus. I had gone to sleep worried, because Mama had not been at home, and I didn't have a costume to wear.
Mama was standing over my bed telling me to wake up. Mama was clearly exhausted, but she was excited (probably from too much coffee), and she wore a huge smile on her face. Her lightness of spirit was palpable. She said, "Ann Conn and I have been up all night at her house sewing you a costume to wear! " And she laughed as she zipped me into a beautiful clown suit made of a heavy, polished cotten. It was soft and white with various sizes of primary colored polka dots scattered all over. Mama told me that I was going to be able to walk the tightrope holding a tiny umbrella, blow a whistle, and ride a tricycle around in the circus ring--all imaginary, of course. I adored the clown suit. It had a huge frilly collar and wrists. It was loose and comfortable; yet it fit perfectly. At school that morning, I did not disappoint, I remember carefully walking the tightrope across the classroom, using the seams in the tiles as my guide.
That was the beginning of my awareness of their friendship, which spanned their lives. I loved being with them as they laughed together and I loved being with all four of you, as we played and followed our mothers' lead. As we all moved and grew and our lives changed, that friendship remained, as strong as ever. Even when Mama had Alzheimer's, her face would light up with a smile when we talked about times we had spent with each of you and your mother. Mama told me that your mom had done her student teaching in her classroom up on the fourth floor at Leon High. As I sit this morning considering all of the friendships and loves that have spawned at Leon High School, I am so happy that their spirits met and worked and played in that environment when they were young and full of energy and passion for their work. Listening to recordings of Poe's short stories, or discussions of Colerdige's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and the Romantic Poets were staples for us, growing up with these women. It was as ubiquitous for us as a loaf of white bread in America today. Their passion for language hopefully touched the students who came through their classrooms, but it took root in our hearts, making us partially who we each are today. My love and deepest condolences to you all.

Kay Smith

December 22, 2018

Wow! I am impressed with all that she did. What a smart and strong woman. Please know you have my heartfelt sympathy.Kay Smith

December 20, 2018

I am sorry for your loss. May you receive the comfort you need during this difficult time. Matthew 5:4

December 20, 2018

How very sorry we are for your loss. May you find comfort in knowing your Heavenly Father cares for your family during this difficult time. Cherish your memories and look forward to the day He promises to reunite us with our dear loved ones. 1 Thessalonians 4:14
Warm regards
The Williams

December 20, 2018

We are very sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in knowing your Heavenly Father cares for your family during this difficult time. Cherish your memories and look forward to the day He promises to reunite us with our dear loved ones. 1 Thessalonians 4:14
Warm regards
The Williams

Showing 1 - 9 of 9 results