Alma Vivian Conner
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12/10/1918 - 01/18/2021
At 102, Alma Vivian Cook Conner passed from this earth to her heavenly home. Born on December 10, 1918, in Atoka, Oklahoma, to Artie Cook and Maude (Rogers) Cook, she was one of five children. Times were tough during her early years and jobs were difficult for her father to find. So, he decided to move the family to Oklahoma City where work was more plentiful. It was there that she grew up and eventually graduated from Capitol Hill High School. Sometime later, her friends set her up on a blind date with a man she eventually fell in love with and married on a chilly Easter Sunday in April of 1941. Jack A. Conner, who preceded her in death, became the spoke to her wheel as they traveled together from coast-to-coast and around the world. They were quite the pair - fun loving and competitive as they played golf, card games and dominos with friends they met and collected along the way, many from Newell motor coach rallies across the nation. Alma loved winning and had no problem reminding anyone of how she did it, making you laugh along with her as she told the story.
She and Jack raised their three children in Odessa, Texas, where he had a pipeline construction company. She spent a number of years teaching children in Sunday School at The First Baptist Church of Odessa, Texas and later with the seniors at the First Baptist Church of Midland, Texas - the same place she could be found nearly every Sunday morning. She often commented that she wished she had the musical talent her mother had - playing the organ by ear and singing hymns. However, Alma's talents developed in other creative areas as she sewed most of her own clothes in the early years of her marriage and always wanted to look her best. It was no wonder that in her later years she would often speculate about what she would wear once she got to heaven. By then, her vision had deteriorated to such an extent that she could only describe what she thought would be worthy of wearing and what she would be doing there.
Alma had a strong faith walk. When reading her bible was no longer possible, she loved having her caregivers read it to her. Together they walked many miles with her as she spoke of her love of Jesus and how she wanted to be a good disciple, doing what she felt was her role on earth - to make people smile. It was not uncommon to enter her apartment at Concordia Assisted Living and hear her speaking with Jesus, thanking Him for what she had and asking for what she felt she needed.
She is survived by her three children, Michael Conner, Gerald Conner, Jill Cox and husband, John; four grandchildren, Braden Beller, Karis Monger, John Conner, and Chayson Conner; and 6 great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to express their gratitude for the attentive and gentle care given to our mother by the staff at Concordia Assisted Living, Betty, Alecia, and Ci Ci with Laura Lynn's Home Care and to Melissa with Integris Hospice Care who managed her comfort during the final days.
A private family graveside service will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa, TX.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory in Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.