Conner Kessler

Former Brookings resident Conner Kessler, 84, of Springfield, died June 15, 2011, of cancer. 

He was born Nov. 17, 1926, in Slater, Colo., to Homer and Grace Smith Kessler. 

Conner graduated from high school and attended college. 

He was drafted into the U.S. Army near the end of World War II, and served stateside only. While still enlisted, he entered into a partnership with his father Homer and older brother Kay  to buy Curry County Lumber Yard. When he was discharged in 1947, he joined them to work in the lumber yard. 

In 1948 he met the love of his life, Mildred Eileen “Mid” Drake, in Brookings. They married April 28, 1948, in Gilbert Creek, Calif., just south of the Oregon border. The couple made their home in Brookings, where their first son, L. Ross, was born in 1950, and their only daughter Connie, was born in 1951. Both children were delivered in Crescent City. 

The family lived in Brookings until they sold the lumber yard in 1958. They then bought a grocery store in Charleston, which they operated for five years. Conner worked as a fishing boat captain for a season before buying another grocery store in Mohawk, outside Springfield. Their second son, C. Scott,  was born there. 

In 1990, Conner and Mid retired in the Mohawk Vally, just down the road from the last store they owned. 

Conner’s hobbies included woodworking and traveling with Mid. Photography was a lifelong passion. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, and exploring off the beaten path. He loved the “Duke”John Wayne. 

Survivors include sons L. Ross Kessler of Mohawk, C. Scott Kessler of Sandy; daughter Connie Murphy of Springfield; brothers Kay Kessler of Medford; Phil Kessler of Williams.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mid in August 2005. 

A funeral service was held June 22, at Mohawk Community Church. Burial was at Mohawk Community Cemetery.

Submitted by the family.