OBITUARY: John Marcus Connor Jr

John was born on November 14, 1945 in Kinston, NC, the son of John Marcus Connor and Emma Amanda Gower Connor. John grew up in Atlantic, NC and later moved to Biscoe, NC. He attended East Montgomery High School graduating in 1964. As a Morehead scholar nominee, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

John attended UNC for three years, leaving his senior year to work in the geophysics department at Research Triangle Institute and was assigned to staff a weather station for nine months atop Pikes Peak in Colorado, as part of a study for the US Army on the affects of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema. After completing this study, John joined the US Navy. After completing Boot Camp Basic Training, he was assigned to an elite aerial photographic reconnaissance/intelligence gathering squadron. He served two tours in Vietnam on the USS Ranger and USS Enterprise.

After an Honorable Discharge from the Navy, John married the love of his life Sharon Ann Wages of Albany, Georgia in 1972. John finished his Bachelor’s Degree and Masters Degree in Geology at Georgia. In 1974, John went to work as geophysicist with Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas. His duties included exploration for oil, natural gas, and various minerals.

After two years with Texas Instruments, John went to work with the United Nations Development Program, based in Paris, France. His work duties included assignments in Africa, South America, Middle East, and Indonesia. In 1976, John became the proud father of son Forrest Lanier and in 1977 another son Mark Benjamin. Now having a family, John went to work with a domestic mining company, the JM Huber Corporation in Macon, Georgia, as a special projects geologist, with exploration projects in Brazil and various locations in the United States.

In 1979, he accepted a job as chief geologist with the Kings Mountain Mica Company. John stayed with Kings Mountain Mica until he was offered the opportunity to start and own his own geological business, Southeastern Geosciences, Inc. During his first two years, John acted as a full time consultant for Easton Minerals Company, a Canadian Minerals Exploration Company based near Toronto, Canada. John’s duties included geological/geophysical exploration and mining engineering. The scope of his work took him all over the world. John continued work with Southeastern Geosciences until his retirement in 2023.

John had a 50 year career in geology and often said he never worked a day in this life – his love and passion for geology was exceeded only by his love of his family and friends. His greatest accomplishment in life was his family, was Sharon (who passed in 2014), sons Forrest and Ben, wife Beth, and three grandchildren Luke, Emily, and Caleb for whom he has the deepest love, pride, and admiration.

John is proceeded in death by an older sister, Hannah Jane; his mother, Emma Amanda; and his father, John Marcus. He is survived by sons Forrest and Ben, wife Beth, and three grandchildren Luke, Emily, and Caleb (from whom great things are expected); John is also survived by long time friend and companion Joyce Gladstone, with whom together, they explored the world.

“Those that would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety.” – Benjamin Franklin

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Kings Mountain Historical Museum would be greatly appreciated.