Orval McConnell's Obituary
Orval Earl McConnell, son of Earl and Aurilla Ann (Martin) McConnell, was born August 21, 1917 near Kirksville, in Knox County, Missouri. He departed this life Friday, October 23, 2009, in Strafford Care Center, in Strafford, Missouri at the age of ninety-two years, two months, and two days. On June 17, 1935 he was united in marriage to Mabel Juanita Dodsworth, in Kirksville, Missouri, and to this union three children were born. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mabel, on October 5, 2004; his parents; a daughter, Lila Faye; two sisters, Irene Scott and Gayle McConnell; and one brother, Omer McConnell. Orval is survived by a son, Dean McConnell, and his wife, Ardena, of Marshfield, Missouri; a daughter, Eula Mae Clouse, of Phillipsburg, Missouri; eight grandchildren, John Clouse, and his wife, Joyce, of Buffalo, Missouri, David E. Clouse, Jr., and his wife, Sandy, of Rogersville, Missouri, Judy McCullah, and her husband, Bob, of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, Kevin Clouse, and his wife, Amy, of Paola, Kansas, Nancee Zabel, and her husband, Jeff, of Chesapeake, Missouri, Thomas Clouse, and his wife, Lori, of Springfield, Missouri, Renata Archer, and her husband, Larry, of Mansfield, Missouri, and Monty McConnell, and his wife, Jana, of Marshfield, Missouri; eighteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; two brothers, Clendus McConnell, of Valley Center, California, and Donald McConnell, of Grants Pass, Oregon; two sisters, Una Mae Pallett, of Magalia, California, and Leola Stratton, of Citrus Heights, California; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many dear friends. He was born and raised in Kirksville, where he met and married Mabel. In 1943 he entered the United States Army and served his country faithfully during World War II. He and Mabel remained in the Kirksville area and he worked for RJ Lumber in Kirksville as a bookkeeper for ten years before moving to the farm northwest of Mansfield in 1960. After twenty years of farming they moved into the city of Mansfield and ten years later moved to their acreage east of Rogersville, Missouri. Orval was converted to Christ in 1933 at a revival in Kirksville, Missouri at a Church of God revival meeting. He was a member of the Church of God of Holiness in Kirksville, Missouri, where he served as a deacon, and chairman of the board for many years and was very active in all the church building, administration and leadership. He later attended the Nazarene Church in Mansfield and Rogersville. He was a wonderful provider and family man and was a kind and caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather; brother, and uncle and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories he has created for his family and friends.
His favorite quote was “Don’t go to God and tell Him how big your giants are, but rather go to your giants and tell them how big your God is!”
Services are Monday, October 26, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. in Holman-Howe Chapel in Seymour, Missouri, with burial in Mansfield Cemetery, Mansfield, Missouri,under direction of Holman-howe Funeral Home of Seymour. Visitation will be Sunday 3:00-4:00 P.M. in the funeral home.
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