Obituary of Harold Louis O'Connor

Harold Louis “Louie” O’Connor, 85, of Coffeyville passed away Saturday, September 18, 2021 at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. He was born on October 1, 1935 at Parsons, Kansas to Thomas Joseph and Elizabeth Ann (Jungles) O’Connor. Louie grew up and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Parsons graduating when he was 15 years old. He then attended Our Lady of the Ozarks Preparatory School graduating when he was 18. Louie attended Parsons Junior College for a year before entering the Chemical Engineering school at Kansas State University. While attending Parsons Junior College he met the love of his life Peggy Porter. Louie completed his classes at Kansas State and they were married on November 17, 1956. Following their marriage they made their home in Webb City, Missouri while Louie completed a Master’s Degree in Chemistry in 1958. After graduating they moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma where Louie worked at Callery Chemical Company, in 1959 they moved to Coffeyville when he accepted a position as Chemist at Cooperative Refining (later Farmland Industries, now Coffeyville Resource) in 1980 he was transferred to Midland, Texas to study Gas Contract Law. In 1981 the family moved to Littleton, Colorado where Louie was head of Gas Processes for Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. In 1983 they returned to Coffeyville when Louie was named Chief Chemist at Farmland Refinery, in 1990 he became an Environmental Engineer at Farmland until retiring in May 1996. Louie and Peggy where active with their children at their church and in the communities they lived. Louie coached all of his children’s teams whether it was baseball, football, basketball and any other sport they were involved in. They were also actively involved in cheering their grandchildren at whatever sport they were involved in. After retiring Louie and Peggy enjoyed traveling to 23 foreign countries and all 50 states, and went on 7 cruises. Louie was an active member of Holy Name Catholic Church where he was a member of Knights of Columbus Council #991, was Past Grand Knight, served as President of the Parish Council, was a member of the Finance Committee and was a Lector, Usher, and Extraordinary Minister. Louie and Al Liebert worked together and founded the Holy Name Carnival which continues today to benefit Holy Name Catholic School. He also served on the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Board of Directors for 17 years, and was a Hospital Auxiliary member for many years. Louie was a Red Cross Volunteer and a Blood Donor for many years. Left to cherish Louie’s memory are his wife, Peggy of the home; his five children, David O’Connor of Houston, Texas, Doug O’Connor and wife, Becky of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Debra Ann Jacobson and husband, Billy of Wilsall, Montana, Deron O’Connor and wife, Sue of Hays, Kansas, and D.J. O’Connor and wife Julie of Plano, Texas; one brother, Thomas O’Connor of Parsons, Kansas; fifteen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and another arriving soon. He was preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Elizabeth O’Connor and his grandparents. A Rosary Vigil service will be at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 22nd at Holy Name Catholic Church in Coffeyville. Following the Rosary the Family will greet those in attendance and all friends at reception Celebrating Louie’s life at the Holy Name School Gym. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 23, 2021 at Holy Name Catholic Church with Father James Schibi officiating. Private Family inurnment will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons, Kansas. Friends may sign the register book on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. The Family suggests memorials in Louie’s memory to Holy Name Catholic School, Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation or Coffeyville Community College Foundation; contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed in care of David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.