John Marcus Connor, Jr.

JOHN MARCUS CONNOR, JR.

-John Marcus Connor,   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 effects 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 for two tours in Vietnam on the USS Ranger and the 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 Master’s Degree in Geology at Georgia.  In 1974, John went to work as a 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.

1n 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 Co, 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 his 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, wife Sharon, (who passed away in 2014), sons Forrest and Ben, wife Beth, and three grandchildren: Luke, Emily and Caleb (from whom great things are expected).  Jon 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 nor safety.” Benjamin Franklin

MEMORIAL SERVICE: First Presbyterian Church, 111 East King St. Kings Mountain, North Carolina       Saturday, May 3, 2025  2:00 P.M.

VISITATION: 1:00 – 2:00 P.M. Saturday, May 3, 2025 prior to the service at First Presbyterian Church.

Memorial May be made in John’s Memory to the Kings Mountain Historical Museum, 100 East Mountain St. Kings Mountain, NC