Connor Craft

Connor Craft, 87, of Wilson, died peacefully surrounded by his loving daughters and caregivers on December 28, 2023.

Services will be held on Sunday, December 31, 2023, at the Saratoga Christian Church where Connor was a lifetime member. Visitation will begin at 2:00 pm and a Celebration of Life at 3:00 pm will follow. Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Park for and at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be made to the Saratoga Christian Church, PO Box 395, Saratoga NC 27873.

Connor spent the majority of his life in Saratoga where he was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Saratoga High School in 1954.   He attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill then transferred to Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) where he graduated with a degree in Business.

Connor spent 43 years in the farm chemical and fertilizer industry. He worked for Planters Cotton Oil & Fertilizer Company as well as Kaiser Chemicals before retiring from Royster Clark in 2001. Connor had a strong work ethic which he passed down to both his daughters.  One in of Connor’s fondest career memories (including the years he suffered from dementia) was working at his Dad’s Cotton Gin and Fertilizer Company.   It was there that he learned how to auction by auctioning mules.  He had a special flare, like no other, for the lifelong skill of auctioning and auctioned antiques, estates, livestock and even church bake sales.

Connor’s favorite pastimes were eating peanut M&M's and traveling. He and his wife traveled often to Tennessee before relocating to Knoxville upon his retirement.  He also was an avid and passionate basketball and football fan. His favorite teams included the Carolina Tar Heels, Tennessee Volunteers and Lenior Rhyne Bears and Hunt High School Warriors.

Connor was preceded in death by his wife and “forever sweetheart”, Ann Beamon Craft, who he was married to for 62 years before her death in 2021; his parents, Ruel Edward Craft and Estelle Harrell Craft, and his grandson, Matthew Samuel Bunn.

He is survived by his daughters, LuAnn Jarnagin (Dean) of Loudon, Tennessee and Connie Jo Bunn (Mike) of Elm City; grandchildren DeAnna Jarnagin, Dr. Zack Bunn (Courtney) and Dr. Maggie Jarnagin; great granddaughter Blakely Grace Bunn; and sister Dr. Ann Harrell Craft of Chantilly, VA.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the caregivers and staff of Gentiva Hospice and Compassionate Care at Foxcroft for all their love, kindness and support in the final year of Connor’s life.  Connor was also blessed with many devoted private caregivers who “rode him 300 miles a day” (in his mind) and always took a route that passed by his Dad’s Cotton Gin in Saratoga. Lastly, Caregiver Denise Harris and Hospice Nurse Ann Durham cannot be thanked enough for their devotion to Connor and the peace and comfort they extended to his family.

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr. N, Wilson, 252-237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com