CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Elva Estes McConnell Jr., 77, of Chaffee died Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2001, at Chaffee Nursing Center.

He was born Oct. 7, 1923, at Malden, Mo., son of Elva Estes and Gertrude Ellen Markle McConnell Sr. He and Virginia Jordan were married Sept. 9, 1949.

McConnell was a social studies teacher and coached high school basketball and baseball. He taught and coached 35 years, the last 22 at Chaffee High School.

He was a member of First Baptist Church and was a deacon many years. He served on Chaffee City Council and Chaffee Police Board. McConnell was a member of Chaffee Rotary Club and former member of Chaffee School Board.

McConnell served with the U.S. Marine Corps at Midway during World War II.

Survivors include his wife; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Donald McConnell of Memphis, Tenn., David and Denise McConnell of Gainesville, Ga.; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Cathy and Auggie Urhahn of Scott City, Mo., Susan Ciluffo of Jackson, Mo., Frances and Ed Dooley of Chaffee; and a sister, Bonnie Holmes of Belding, Mich.

Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, Dan and Jennifer Hecht of Jackson, Ryan Dooley of Cape Girardeau, John Ciluffo of Vincennes, Ind., Christina Ciluffo of Jackson, Brett McConnell, Seth McConnell and Maggie McConnell, all of Memphis, Heather McConnell, David McConnell Jr. and Jacob McConnell, all of Gainesville; and a great-grandson, Evan Hecht of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.

Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee after 4 p.m. today.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Chaffee. The Rev. Charley Shrum will officiate, assisted by the Rev. Lee Roy Quinn. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery at Malden.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Dooley, John Ciluffo, Dan Hecht, Keith Mitchell, John Payne and Dennis Bess.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund in Chaffee.