Dorothy Connor

Dorothy Connor
    Dorothy Dale Connor, 86, died on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, and was laid to rest beside her husband in Show Low.
   Dorothy Dale Walley was born in Brooklyn, Miss., on April 28, 1922. Her uncle, Homer Walley, raised Dorothy along with his two children, Loyal and Juanita, in Chicago.
   Dorothy, known affectionately as Dottie, served in the Army during World War II. She was swept off her feet by a dashing young soldier whom she met when she missed the bus back to her barracks. The young soldier’s name was Henry David Connor, known by all as Dave. Less than two weeks after this first meeting, they were married on Aug. 4, 1944…a union that lasted 63 years until Dave’s passing little more than a year ago in January 2008.
   Unable to have children of their own, they waited many months and waded through endless red tape to adopt two young boys from Korea with the assistance of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They became parents in June 1956 when their new sons, Danny and Eugene, finally arrived. Shortly after, the family moved from New Mexico to their new home in Phoenix.
   Dottie’s life was devoted to Dave and to raising her boys. Both Dave and Dottie were very active in the Phoenix Seventh-day Adventist Church and formed lifelong friendships with other families. In order to be home for her sons while Dave worked during the day, Dottie worked the night shift at the State Hospital in Phoenix.
   Dave and Dottie first visited the Heber/Overgaard area in the early 1970s, and immediately decided it would be their escape from the Phoenix heat and their retirement home. In keeping with their conservative values, they had their home built over a five-year period as they saved enough to complete and pay for each phase. Dave took early retirement in 1978 and they lived there since that time.
   Dottie’s life was one of determination and purpose. Hers was never a life of ease, but one of self-sacrifice for her family. Once her sons were grown, her attention turned exclusively to being the companion and soulmate for Dave.
   Survivors include her two sons, James (Dan) and Eugene (Gene) Connor; daughters-in-law, Sue Con-nor, Debra Connor and Darleen Connor; five grandchildren, Brian Connor, Becky Bruza and her husband Michael Bruza, Melanie Fadley and her husband Chris Fadley, Scott Connor, and Michael Connor and his wife, Brandy Connor; two great-granddaughters, Lilah and Isabella Bruza; and a brother, Loyal Walley.
   She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dave; her mother, Ellen; and her sister, Juanita.
   In lieu of flowers, her family suggests that donations in her memory be made to RTA Hospice, 1789 W. Commerce Drive, Lakeside, Ariz. 85929.
   Owens Mortuary of Show Low was in charge of the arrangements.