Mr. James R. O'Conner, age 85, formerly of Mt. Vernon passed away on Thursday evening, February 28, 2019 at his Conley, Georgia home.

Born in Montgomery County, he was the only child born to the late Clayborne Felton Isadore O'Conner and Mamie Cooper Crawford O'Conner. He grew up in Mt. Vernon and attended school in the Montgomery County public school system. At the age of sixteen he moved to Atlanta and began a long career working in the construction industry as a Dry Wall Finisher. He worked with Atlanta Dry Wall and Waller Dry Wall of Atlanta, for 59 years, until retiring in 2008.

Mr. O'Conner enjoyed yardwork and was especially attentive to minute details that others would overlook or deem unnecessary and nonconsequential. He raised eight children and taught them all how to work on their cars. He also put them in karate and ballet. James never asked for help and worked from sun up to sun down to support his family.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Laura Frances Harris O'Conner, who passed away in 2004, his step mother, Lucille O'Conner, two sons, Ricky Lee O'Conner, Terry Donald O'Conner, a brother, Donald O'Conner and a sister, Vonnell "Teensie" Powell.

Mr. O'Conner leaves behind, his children, Darrell O'Conner (Angie), McDonough, GA, Bonnie Helms (Benny), Stockbridge, GA, Randy O'Conner, Conley, GA, Laurie O'Conner, Conley, GA, Tina O'Conner, Conley, GA, Tonya Blackstock (Karlton), Conley, GA, two brothers, Bobby O'Conner, Mt. Vernon, GA, Jack O'Conner, Rentz, GA, a sister, Margaret Horne, Soperton, GA, grandchildren, Trinity, Eric, Jessica, Kevin, Brendon, Jada, Kaiden, great grandchildren, Ashlynn, Trenton, Jocelynn, Peyton, Sabastian, Bradley, Braxton, Camden, Arielle, Isabella and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 pm on Monday, March 4, 2019 in the chapel of Sammons Funeral Home with Reverend Doyle Waller officiating.

Mr. O'Conner will be laid to rest in the Cooper Cemetery in Montgomery County.

His family will receive friends on Sunday from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at the funeral home.