David Connelly

David Richard Connelly passed away on January 3, 2023 at the age of 83. Born to William Howard and Thelma Grace (Hill) Connelly on August 27, 1939, the third of 3 sons. A time when Olathe KS was the edge of the prairie and the prairie connection was deep in his heart and soul. Feeling connected to the earth and the creatures in it, he felt more at ease with the Celtic and Native American religions then the one of his birth. He was drawn to the mountains of Colorado and the prairies of Kansas. The Flint Hills were captivating to him.

He farmed for many years with his family, but in 1968 he left for the city with his new family to begin his new career with Southwestern Bell Telephone, later known as AT&T. In 1992 he accepted a buy out and retired early at the age of 53. Then he began his next adventure, working on houses in Lexington MO. He was a great fixer upper who loved to work with wood and painting the “great painted ladies.

In 1994 he met the true love of his life, Roger Dean Woods. The two of them took many trips all over the western US.  Roger became David’s rock and care giver as COPD, Parkinson’s, and Dementia slowly stripped him of his mobility, but never of his dignity. David was the light in any room he entered. He was one that never met a stranger. His acidic sense of humor marked many, but he deeply loved the few that he cared for. His stories of the prairie and his life adventures (he was always a pirate and rascal to the end) was one of his endearing features. You never knew where you’d find David. Doing a barrel roll as a passenger in his coworker’s biplane, zooming around town in one of his beloved Ford Mustangs, or spending the night on the rooftop of a hotel in Mesa Verde National Park watching the stars with Roger by his side. He lived his life on his terms, like there was no tomorrow. He left this realm with no regrets.

David is predeceased by his parents, Brother Gilbert and wife Lela Faye, Brother Ronald and wife Sondra, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was the last from his generation of a large, tightly knitted extended family.

He leaves behind his life partner Roger Woods, daughter Anna (Eugene) Hallouer, best friends Steve Soffer,  Leonard Graham, and Alvin (AJ) Schnieder, grandchildren Jackie (Michael Garrett) Julison, Brandy (Amia Brunson) Julison, Erin Hallouer-Cash, Adam (Amber) Hallouer, Shelby (Rickie Clevenger) Hallouer, nephew Mark Connelly, niece Cheryl (Michael) Schoonover, 20 great grandchildren, several cousins, and last, but not least, his favorite hospice nurse Nicki, who sat by his side with many members of his family, who were shedding tears, but most importantly laughing and sharing stories about David as he was moving on to his next adventure.

Donations may be sent to Brighton Hospice - KS.