James Raymond O'Connor's Obituary
Mr. O'Connor passed away February 28th at his residence in St. Helens. He was 92 years old.
Born November 16, 1918 in St. Helens to James Stephen & Elsie June Corkill O'Connor he was the elder of two children. James graduated from St. Helens High School in 1937, received his Bachelor of Science from Western Oregon College in 1941 and his Master of Science in Education from the University of Oregon 1951.
James then enlisted in the United States Navy in December of 1941 and served active duty until 1946. He served on the LST-538 at Omaha Beach, Normandy Invasion, D-Day, June 6, 1944; participated in the Invasion of Okinawa, April 1945 on the LST-996. He attended midshipman officer training school at Notre Dame University and was commissioned at the rank of Ensign and left active service at the rank of Lieutenant JG. James joined the US Navy Reserve in 1946, retiring from the reserve at the rank of Lt. Commander.
James married Cora Mae Denney of Enterprise, Oregon on May 26, 1948 in Reno, Nevada. From this union they have two children.
James began his teaching and coaching career in 1946 at Enterprise High School where he taught math, PE, and coached football. James later moved to Hermiston Oregon in 1948 and taught high school math, driver's ed, and coached several sports until 1966 when he became the School Administrator at Elgin, Oregon.
In 1968 he was selected to become the Principal of Otto Petersen Elementary until 1972 when he took the position of Principal of Scappoose Middle School. In 1984 he retired from the Oregon School System.
James was a longtime member of Christ Episcopal Church, a Lions Club member for over 31years and a founding member of the Hermiston Elks Lodge, Hermiston, Oregon.
James is survived by his wife of 62 years, Cora Mae O'Connor, children; Kari and her husband Andrew Woyak of Aloha, Oregon, James S. and his wife Alina O'Connor of Miami, Florida, grandchildren; Kathreen Woyak of Portland, Gabriella O'Connor and James O'Connor both of Miami, Florida, brother-in-law, Delbert Denney. Preceded in death by parents, and his sister Valerie O'Connor.
Contributions can be made in his memory to the Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation.
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