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Mr. James John “J.J.” O’Conner, 80, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Thursday, November 29, 2018, at Baptist Medical Center Nassau.
He was born in the Kibbee community in Montgomery County, Ga. to the late James Patrick and Myrtice Azle Collins O’Conner. He was one of three children and was predeceased by his twin brother, Peter “Pat” O’Conner, and younger brother, Charles O’Conner.
In 1962, he joined the U.S. Army and was based at Wheeler Army Airfield in Honolulu, Hawaii as an airframe and power plant mechanic. He attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Miami, Fla. He worked for Lockheed on the C5 Galaxy Program (Ships 131-147), Eastern Airlines, Air Kaman and Anheuser-Busch. He and Pat owned and operated O’Conner Aviation and a few other land development businesses.
J.J. moved with his family to Fernandina Beach from Alma, Ga. in 1977. He spent much of his working life as an aircraft mechanic and business owner. Before moving to and settling in Fernandina Beach, he and his brother purchased a large tract of land located on the east side of Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport to continue their Georgia-based aircraft operations. They developed a successful project known as the Amelia Island Industrial Park.
J.J. and Pat spent most of their lives together in family and business.
J.J. was a faithful member of Five Points Baptist Church and a men’s Sunday school teacher.
He leaves behind his wife, Nancile O’Conner of Fernandina Beach; his three children, Shannon O’Conner and his wife, Sandie, Dale O’Conner and his wife, Angelia, and Sindy O’Conner; his grandchildren, Aaron Bell and his wife, Alison, Joshua O’Conner, Caitlin O’Conner and her husband, Pratyush, Sarah O’Conner, Lexi Geller and her husband, Ian, Kendall O’Conner, Weston Perry, Daniel O’Conner, Rebecca Perry, and James O’Conner; and two great-grandchildren, Brendan and Jackson Bell, as well as several extended family members.
His funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, December 3, 2018 at Five Points Baptist Church with his grandson, Rev. Aaron Bell, and Pastor Frank Camarotti officiating. The family received friends 3-5 p.m. Sunday, December 2, 2018 at Oxley-Heard Funeral Home. J.J. was laid to rest, with military honors, with his parents and other family members at 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at Braddy Cemetery near Kibbee, Ga. with Sammon’s Funeral Home assisting.
The family asks that memorial donations be made to Five Points Baptist Church to honor his life.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
