Annie Conner

Waynesville, Annie Rose Smith Conner, age 89, passed away on Saturday, July 3, 2021 surrounded by loving family.

Ann grew up in Haywood County, the daughter of the late Oliver Smith and Evia Lee Pressley Smith.  She was also preceded in death by her dear husband of 68 years, Floyd Edward Conner, Sr. who died in 2017; their son, Keith Conner; two brothers, J.D. and J.B. Smith; her infant sister, Cora Belle Smith; daughter-in-law, Jean Conner; and two sons-in-law, Carroll Beck and Tom Smith.

Ann worked for 28 years in the Haywood County School System as a bus driver for special needs students.  "Miss Annie", as she was fondly called, relished the laughter and joy of shepherding children to school and getting to see them develop.  Ann enjoyed gardening, managing her chicken coop, and the thrill of seeing hummingbirds.  Raising her big, beautiful family was her life’s biggest accomplishment and nothing made her happier than family gatherings with everyone all together.

She is survived by the pride of her life, her ten children; four daughters, Joyce Beck, Katherine (Charlie) Cochran, Martha Smith, and Mary (Robert) Cogdill, and one stepdaughter, Libbie (Ricky) Shelton and five sons, Steve Conner, Floyd (Cathy) Conner, John (Tanya) Conner, Don (Thomasine) Conner, and Michael Conner; two sisters, Beatrice Frady and Peggy (Robert) Stiles; and two brothers, J.C. (Judy) Smith and Claude (Fern) Smith.  Also left to treasure their Mamaw’s memory are 25 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, and 17 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at Balsam Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Greg Cullen and Reverend Ricky Shelton officiating.  Burial will follow at Balsam Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.  The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the church.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Haywood Hospice for the exceptional care given to Ann.  Special thanks to her wonderful caretakers, Hannah Smith, Hannah Jones, Misty Cochran, Roz Rhymer Fisher and Patricia Birchfield.

The care of Mrs. Conner has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes of Waynesville.