Retha Joy Conner

Retha Joy Conner passed peacefully, surrounded by her family, on May 12, 2025. And so, a devout and gentle soul has crossed from this earthly realm into the eternal.

Retha Conner was, above all, a survivor and a woman of profound faith. In 1971, after a devastating car accident and four long months in a coma, she awoke much to the astonishment of doctors and loved ones alike. Though the accident left her with permanent amnesia, she emerged with two things that would shape the rest of her life. One was her Social Security number; an unlikely yet essential anchor to the world she re-entered. The other was a deep, unshakable love for Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior; the foundation upon which she would rebuild her life, and the key to her peace, both in this life and the next.

Her faith was more than just a key to the ever after. It was her compass, her comfort, her safety, and joy. It carried her through seasons of sorrow and lifted her in times of grace and celebration. When amnesia left her lost, her faith offered clarity. Her faith did not just light her path ~ it was her path.

Retha possessed a generous and giving spirit, one that reached far beyond immediate family. She gave freely to those she believed to be in need, extending compassion to causes near and far.

Retha believed in family - not just in name, but in presence and connection. Though her relationships were complicated, she maintained ties with family through the seasons of her life.

She reunites in peace with her beloved son, Jeffrey Conner, and her husband, Paul Conner.

She is survived by her daughter, Lisa Conner; her grandchildren ~ Crystal Conner, Robert McMahon (Sara), and Connor McMahon. She is also survived by her siblings ~ James (Vicky), Charles (Cheryl), Denis (Kathy), Mark, Gary, Susan, Judy Snyder, and Nancy Nordmann (Brett)along with their children and grandchildren. Her cherished cousin, "Bird" Kelsey, also survives her, as do Bird’s children and grandchildren. Each of them carries forward Retha’s legacy of strength, compassion, and grace.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

~ Psalm 23:6.