Marvin C. Connor

1927 - 2024

SALEM - Marvin C. Connor, father, boat pilot, auto mechanic and body shop owner, marina operator, skilled lathe operator, scuba diver, and a self-taught jack of all trades, died June 14, 2024, at age 97. Marvin was born on Jan. 21, 1927, on a farm halfway between Pellville and Floral, Kentucky, as the youngest child of Herbert Clyde Connor and Anna B Harrison Connor. He grew up in rural Hancock County and Owensboro, Kentucky. After serving in World War II, he relocated to Tell City, Indiana, where he began a career as an auto mechanic working at the local Pontiac garage. He soon moved on to his own business, Connor's Body Shop, where he became known as a skilled and well-liked mechanic and auto body repairman for much of the town's populace. Not long after starting this business, he was prevailed upon by some of his fellow pleasure boat owners to take over the operation of the Tell City Marina, a boat dock on the Ohio River. He also learned to scuba dive and assisted the local fire and police departments with rescue operations. And, he bought a small tow boat that he renovated to add a pilot house, the "Carol Sue," which he used to assist in operations on the river.

In the late 1960s, Marvin began work on the construction of a dam on the Ohio River at Cannelton, Indiana, which began his occupation as a river boat pilot. He worked on various dam construction projects up and down the Ohio, until he finally relocated to Smithland, Kentucky, to work on the construction of the Smithland Dam. He continued working as a boat pilot until his retirement in 1989. In retirement, he and his wife, Darla, began working as flea market vendors, and Marvin taught himself to paint beautiful pictures. He also taught himself carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work, and built an addition to their Smithland home, as well as various outbuildings.

Marvin's hobbies included spending time with his large family, reading Western novels, fishing and hunting with his buddies, raising large and bountiful vegetable and fruit gardens, and, to use his word, "piddling." If he needed a tool or device for himself or others, he would create it. But Marvin's passion was his involvement in the Masonic Lodge in both Tell City (Lodge #623) and Smithland (Lodge #138), where he was known for bringing his home-made fried apple pies to functions. He was also a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers for most of his working career. Marvin never met a stranger - he could (and did) strike up an animated conversation with just about anyone he met. His storytelling was legendary!

Marvin is survived by six children, Carol Connor Cohen (Jeff), Cathy Connor Grundhoefer (Gary), Charles "Chuck" Connor (Darla), Marvin Craig Connor, Cindy Connor Wiseman (Darrell), and Rosa Connor Gilland (Michael); 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife Darla Jean (Richardt) Connor; sons, Michael Ambrose Connor and Christopher Neal Connor; grandson Jacob Paul Gilland, and brothers Sewell Connor, Sr. and A.B. Connor and sister Jo Connor Bowlds.

Graveside funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at Calvary Cemetery, Sherlock Road, in Troy, Indiana.

Masonic services were conducted at 7 p.m. Monday at Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services in Salem.

Kentucky funeral arrangements are being handled by Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services in Salem, and Indiana funeral arrangements are being handled by Zoercher-Gillick Funeral Home in Tell City, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Smithland Masonic Lodge, C/O Boyd Funeral Directors, P.O. Box 26, Salem, KY 42078.

Online condolences may be left at boydfuneraldirectors.com or zoercher-gillickfuneralhome.com.