Margaret Lareine Pennington Conner, 101

MESQUITE, Nev. - Margaret Lareine Pennington Conner joined her beloved husband James for eternity with her passing on Feb. 15, 2009. She was 101. Conner, born Oct. 12, 1907 in Havre de Grace, Md., was the daughter of Dr. Lee R. Pennington and Mary Lareine Hulett. Raised in the riverside town of Havre de Grace, she married James K. Conner Sr. on Feb. 12, 1929. During the 1930's, she worked at the Edgewood Arsenal, a military depot in Edgewood, Md. In 1941, she and her family moved to Ridley Park, Pa. In Ridley Park, Conner and her husband raised their family, including sons, William Conner, James K. Conner Jr., who passed away in 2002, and John Norman Conner of Glenolden, Pa.; along with daughters, Lareine Cowan of Mesquite, Nev., and Patricia Conner of Florissant, Colo. While living in Ridley Park, Conner was active in the Ridley Park Women's Club, served as a Girl Scout leader, and volunteered at Taylor Hospital. She also owned and operated "The Novelty Nook" during the 1950's and 60's, where she taught ceramics and crafts. In addition to her passion for ceramics, Conner enjoyed knitting and crocheting, as well as creating and collecting dolls. After her husband's passing in January of 1971, she remained in Ridley Park until she moved to North Ft. Myers, Florida in the mid 1980's to be with her son Jim and his wife Freddie. In 2005, she moved to Mesquite, Nev., to live with her daughter, Lareine. In 2007, she received congratulations from President George W. Bush, Governor Jim Gibbons, and TV personality Willard Scott upon reaching her 100th birthday. In addition to her grown children, Conner leaves behind 16 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 23 at Glenwood Memorial Gardens in Broomall, Pa. Funeral services are under the direction of the Melvin Funeral Home in Harrington.