Elizabeth Heathcote Connor

CONNOR, Elizabeth Heathcote
Kalamazoo, MI Elizabeth Connor was born in Kalamazoo in 1918. She attended Washington Junior High School, where her father was principal and graduated from Central High School. She attended Western State Teachers College, where she met her future husband, Ivan Douglas Connor. They were married in 1938 and lived in Northport, MI for three years, where their daughter was born and where Ivan taught music at Northport High School. They moved to Allegan, MI for two years before Ivan went into military service overseas. While he was in Europe, Elizabeth taught school in Kalamazoo. They moved to Detroit in 1947, where their son was born and Ivan taught instrumental music. Elizabeth began teaching elementary school in Detroit and became an Assistant Principal two years later. In another year she would become a Principal. Subsequently, Elizabeth became Supervisor of Social Studies for the entire Detroit School System and retired as Director of the department in 1977. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dan and Hazel Heathcote and three brothers, Edward, Francis and James Heathcote. She is survived by her husband, Ivan; her children, Katherine Elizabeth Connor of CA and Gary Deborah Louise Connor of Farmington, MI; her grandchildren, Catherine Ann Connor and Dr. Michael Douglas Beth Trimark Connor. Her husband likes to say that she was one of the first to prove that a woman can have a successful career and be a wonderful wife and mother at the same time. She will be missed by all of those whose lives she touched. A private family committal at Ft. Custer National Cemetery is being planned for a later date. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St. Please visit www.langelands.com for online obituary, directions, register book and condolences. 343-1508