Kevin O'Connor

06/04/2020

Kevin Francis O’Connor, 58, from Center and Houston, TX was a man who impacted many lives. He passed away on June 3rd, 2020 from pulmonary complications. He’d fought pulmonary fibrosis for seven years and organ rejection after a double lung transplant for three years. He was a fighter, for his family always, his country in the navy, and citizens in peril as a devoted volunteer firefighter. At one house fire, he arrived wearing his oxygen cannula, and took it off himself to give the man rescued from the fire.

He was a man who loved deeply; his God, his wife of 31 years and best friend, Saundra O’Connor, and his two beloved daughters, Kayla O’Connor of Dallas and Mary O’Connor of Houston.

Memorial service will be held Saturday, June 27th at 2:00 pm at Center Christian Fellowship 2471 Hwy 96 N, Center, TX. Due to Covid, masks are welcome and disposable masks will be available.

Kevin owned his own plumbing business, coached Center girls softball, served as president of the girls' softball association, and a member of Center Christian Fellowship for over 20 years. During that time served and taught the Children's Church and Junior High Youth Ministry.

He held onto yard signs from his run for Center City Council, and had recently been considering dusting them off again, even though he was on the transplant list for a lung retransplant.

A peek at his heart is in what he told young men he mentored, “any man can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a dad.” 

He was born in Chicago, IL to Mary Angela Geraci and Michael O’Connor. He was the baby of their four children. 

He is survived by:

Wife, Saundra O’Connor

Daughters:
Kayla O’Connor of Dallas
Mary O’Connor of Houston

Brothers:
Michael O’Connor and wife, Lisa of Jacksonville, AL
Timothy O’Connor and wife, Lindsey of Castle Rock, CO

Sister, Mary O’Connor Holland and husband Randy of Houston, TX

Mother-in-law, Wanda P. Lackey of Center

Brother and sister-in-laws:
Doug Lackey of Anniston, AL
Steve and June Cubstead of Grapeland, TX
Craig and Debra Hallman of Charleston, SC
Ronald and Vickie Lackey of Munford, AL
Carolyn Lackey of Lincoln, AL
Perry and Samantha Lackey of Munford, AL
Dona Lackey-Malone of Midland, TX
Rodney and Denise Mathews of Joaquin, TX

Numerous nephews and nieces

Special life long friends, Al and Liz Mihalco and Linda Brown

Preceded in death by his Parents, Mary Angela Geraci and Michael O'Connor and Father-in-law, Charles E Lackey.

Services are under the direction of Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.