Oaklie Kermit (O.K.) McConnell, Jr.

Oaklie Kermit (O.K.) McConnell, Jr., age 93, of Knoxville, passed away on Thursday, September 21, 2023. He graduated from Knoxville High School in 1947 and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1951, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma and Phi Eta Sigma honorary fraternities, and Pershing Rifles and Scabbard and Blade honorary military societies. He also received the Outstanding Freshman award and the Allen Prize in Mathematics in 1948, and Lockett scholarship in 1949. He served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force as a project officer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH. He retired from Martin Marietta, Oak Ridge, TN Y-12 plant after 34 years of service as an inspection engineer and classification specialist. He accepted Jesus as his personal Savior on December 7, 1952. He was a member of Arlington Baptist Church of Knoxville where he served as a deacon and church treasurer. He has also served on the board of directors of the Hunters Crossing Homeowners Association. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Emmett Washington (E.W.) and Hannah Daugherty McConnell, John and Maria Fuzek; parents Oaklie Kermit (O.K.) McConnell, Sr. and Margaret Fuzek McConnell, wives Hazel Grace Turner McConnell and Katy Lawson Kelly Coker McConnell, son Steven Turner McConnell, and brother John Robert McConnell. He is survived by his nephew Daniel McConnell, of Springs, TX, niece, and husband Vickie and Tery Torres, Helotes, TX, niece Katrina Smith, niece and husband Kelly and Herbie McLemore, great nieces Kendall Stagg and husband Will Stagg, Kelsey McBee and Kylie McLemore, great great nephew Liam Stagg, first cousin Mary Ann Fuzek, Knoxville and numerous other cousins. The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 3:00 pm Sunday, September 24, 2023, at Rose Funeral & Cremation-Broadway. A funeral service will follow at 3:00 pm with Rev. John Lovelace officiating. Family and friends will gather at 10:45 am Monday, September 25, 2023, at Lynnhurst Cemetery for an 11:00 am graveside service with Full Military Honors conducted by Tri County Honor Guard. Online condolences may be extended at www.rosefuneraltn.com

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Oaklie Kermit (O.K.) McConnell, Jr.

September 21, 2023