Carolyn Connell

Carolyn June Connell (June, Mama, Memaw) went to be with Jesus on Friday, February 19, 2021. She lived her retirement years in Sweeny, Texas. One of her retirement projects was researching family history for her six children and their families. She spent years writing letters to relatives to collect information and taught herself to use a computer to write the precious memories and Burrow-Tarver history. She had detailed memories and took no internet shortcuts. She described her beginning in her own words. “I was born June 2, 1930 to Willie Norwood Tarver and Mable May Miller Tarver on the old Ward Ranch. It was situated in Archer County north-east of Olney, Texas. There was an oil field on the ranch and I was born there at home.” Her words describe living with her parents on the oil lease very close to her Grandma and Grandpa Smith and Aunt Maggie and Uncle Jay, who all lived in a row of three houses. “These houses were surrounded by a fence” and had “a cellar, chicken house and an outhouse”. This simple place of home and hard work seemed like a very happy place to her as she wrote, “I loved the smell of the oil lease we lived on and every now and then I still miss it.”

Family was very important to her. She and her husband, Vern Burrow Sr, had a houseful of children, 4 girls and 2 boys, in Altus, Oklahoma. She was clearly proud of them all as she wrote, “our family has continued to grow over the years.” At the time of her death her family grew to include 14 grandchildren, 26 great grand-children, and 3 great-great grandchildren. They are all truly her cherished legacy!

June was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Mable Tarver; half-brother, Fred Tarver; half-sisters, Wanda Tangorra and Jo Ann Jansky; husband, Vern Burrow Sr ; husband, Harold Connell; daughter, Mary Frances Krailo and her husband, Dean; son, Paul Michael (Mikey) Burrow; son-in-law, Paul (Bo) Gennusa, Jr; grand-daughter, Melissa Gennusa Rodriguez; and great grandson, Christian Gennusa.

She is survived and cherished by her daughters, Rose Gennusa of League City, Texas; Carolyn Howland of Coal City, Illinois; Angela Thompson and husband, Lewis, of Missouri City, Texas; her son, Vern Burrow, Jr. and wife, Cindy, of Damon, Texas; her 43 grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and her beloved church family.

Through many years of health problems and changes that came with long life, many of us heard Mama say, “I’m ready to go. I don’t know why the Lord keeps me here.” We know the answer. He kept her here for us, and we were so blessed!

Her grandson, Nathan Burrow, will officiate a memorial on a future date, due to Covid health considerations. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of June Connell to Needville Church of Christ, 9526 Church Street, Needville, Texas 77461. Final arrangements are made through C. T. Baker & Sons Funeral Home in West Columbia, Texas.