BYRON CONNELL JR.

Byron L. "Connie" Connell Jr., 63, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Aug. 15, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born Nov. 28, 1935, in Cairo, Ill., son of Byron L. and Laura Brookins Connell Sr. He and Vicki Miller were married Dec. 3, 1977, in Cape Girardeau.

Connell was a graduate of Mounds High School, the University of Illinois, and Vanderbilt School of Law.

He had a law practice in Mounds and Cairo 34 years, retiring in 1995. He was an attorney for a number of school districts in Southern Illinois many years. He also had been an assistant attorney general for the state of Illinois.

Connell was a member of LaCroix United Methodist Church and its Men's Bible Study, Illinois Bar Association, and was a member of Shawnee School Board four years.

He coached junior olympics and AAU basketball and baseball. He was a member of the University of Illinois golf team and was an All Big Ten selection. He played competitive golf 45 years in the tri-state area and won many tournaments. He is a member of the Southern Illinois Golf Association Hall of Fame.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Byron Connell III of Brentwood, Tenn., Jeff Connell of Cape Girardeau, Jay Connell of Columbia; and a daughter, Heather Connell of Cape Girardeau.

Also surviving is a stepson, Shannon Aden of Cape Girardeau; a stepdaughter, Shelly McMahan of Wolf Lake, Ill.; a brother, Jack Connell of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Barbara Goforth of Jonesboro, Ill.; and three grandchildren.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 4-8 p.m. today.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at LaCroix Church. The Rev. Ron Watts will officiate. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.