Wayne McConnell

23 April 1937 – 20 November 2009

Gate City, VA - Wayne G. "Cuz" McConnell, 72, passed away November 20, 2009 in a hunting accident.

He was a born-again Christian and a member of the First Baptist Church of Gate City. He was born in Scott County, VA. and was a graduate of Shoemaker High School. He attended Milligan College, graduated from E.T.S.U., and earned a Masters Degree at University of Western Kentucky. Wayne taught school at Rye Cove for a number of years. He served 4 years in the Air Force; he retired as Center Director Job Corp in Collbran, CO. (Dept. of Interior). He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He was a member of Historical Society of Southwest Virginia, Scott County VA Historical Society, Daniel Boone Community Club, Wise County Historical Society, Board member and trustee of the McConnell and Related Families Clan, and Sons of the Confederate Veterans.
Wayne was the author of the book "Dan'l Boone Crept Here' and was instrumental in updating and republishing the book "McConnell and Snavely" with research by Laka Compton. He was a contributor to many area publications, including "McConnell Newsletter."

He is preceded in death by his parents, John Leonard McConnell and Phoebe McClain McConnell, and by his first wife, Sandra Rhoton McConnell; six brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret Stallard McConnell; son, Bart McConnell and wife, Kathleen; Gate City, VA., daughters, Cathy Ellington and husband, Scott, Snellville, GA. and Kelley Lilly and husband, Mike, Sanford, NC. Sisters; Dorothy Lane, Ann Jenkins and husband, Bob, and a brother, Joe McConnell, Gate City, VA. Two grandsons, Lucas Ellington and Zachary Lilly, two granddaughters, Maggie Ellington and Madison Lilly, along with several nieces, nephews, many cousins and many friends.

The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Monday, November 23, 2009 at Gate City Funeral Home and any time at the residence. Services will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. in the Gene Falin Memorial chapel of the funeral home with Rev. Jeff DeBoard and Rev. Mark Estepp officiating. Eulogy will be given by his friend and hunting buddy, Larry Culbertson. His nephew, Joel Jenkins will provide the music.

A Military Graveside service will be conducted Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the John L. McConnell Cemetery with Military Graveside rites conducted by the VFW Post #3382 Charles Dewitt Byrd Post.
Nephews, Barry Lane, David Pippin, Joel Jenkins, Mark Jenkins, Stan Jenkins, John McConnell, Keith McConnell, Daryl Jayne and Payton Jenkins will serve as pallbearers. C.R. Keith, Omer Addington, Garland Stokes, John Ferguson, Mike Kerney, Tom Honeycutt, Billy Jack McConnell, Dr. Bill Grigsby, Gene Kilbourne, Johnny McConnell, Paul McConnell and Frank McConnell will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family will meet 9:15 a.m. at the funeral home to go in procession to the graveside service. In lieu of flower contributions, the family ask to make them to the charity of your choice or to the McConnell Cemetery Fund (P.O. Box 1469 Gate City, VA. 24251) An online guest registry is available for the McConnell family at www.gatecityfunerals.com.

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