William Jack McConnell

William Jack McConnell

William Jack “BillyJack” McConnell passed away January 23, 2024, at the Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Johnson City, TN.  He was born on November 3, 1933, in Pactolus, Tennessee. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-six years Peggy Meade McConnell.  He is survived by his daughters Teresa Carter (Roy) and Tina Slaughter; his son Gary McConnell; his grandchildren Melissa Kleiner, Markeeta Bryant (Matthew), Michele Cooper (Daniel), Sammy Dennison Jr., Nathan Carter (Maya); and his great-grandchildren Jordana & Elise Kleiner; Carter, Erin, and Elijah Gillenwater; Eli & Caleb Cooper.

BillyJack joined the Air Force in 1952 and after training he served in Landstuhl, Germany. While in Germany he corresponded with his young sweetheart for nearly four years. After being discharged from the Air Force he went back home and courted and married the love of his life, Peggy Jean Meade.  From there, he re-enlisted in the Air Force, and they began their adventures as an Air Force Family traveling and exploring their surroundings at every assignment.  After three children and assignments in Knoxville, TN; Charleston, WVA; Ramore, Ontario, Canada; Montgomery, AL; Wunstorf, Germany; Livorno, Italy; Washington, DC; and finally, Ramstein, Germany, he retired with 20 years of service.

BillyJack second career was as a USPS letter carrier in Kingsport, TN. He served another 20 years delivering mail throughout the Kingsport area.

BillyJack third career was following his passions.  After retiring from the USPS, BillyJack and his wife Peggy decided to continue their travels.  They had explored Europe and now it was time to see their own beautiful land. They trekked across the country in their van and on numerous bus tours.  BillyJack also developed a great interest in family history. He joined with a cousin in expanding and maintaining a family genealogy database, tracking his McConnell ancestors back to the 1700s.  He and Peggy began exploring family-related sites, documenting graves of ancestors they found. BillyJack and a group of cousins reclaimed, restored, and maintained a number of family related cemeteries that had fallen into neglect. They also started a family group that met annually for over twenty years gathering relatives from multiple areas.

BillyJack was a Mason for fifty-eight years and also a member of the Jericho Shrine. In both of these organizations, BillyJack was an advocate for children.  He actively raised funds for the Shriner Hospitals and for the Children’s Shoe Fund.  He also made seventy-one trips to Greenville, SC taking children to appointments at the Shriner Hospital there.

Those who knew him, either as BillyJack, Bill, Mac, or Snuffy will remember him as a loyal husband, father, grandfather, and friend.  He was an amateur historian with immense knowledge about the history of Scott County.  He was a storyteller extraordinaire who never passed up an opportunity to tell a story.

The family will receive friends from 1-3p.m., Monday, January 29, 2024, at the Gate City Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow the visitation at the Holston View Cemetery in Weber City, VA with Mike Beverly officiating.  The service will conclude with a Masonic and a Military service.

Sammy Dennison, Nathan Carter, Daniel Cooper, Matthew Bryant, Jeff Cox, and Al Bouldin will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to BillyJack’s favorite charity:
 Sullivan County Scottish Rite Club (Memo: children’s shoe fund)
 P.O. Box 861, Kingsport, TN 37662

An online guest register is available for the McConnell family at www.gatecityfunerals.com.

Gate City Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of William “Billy Jack” McConnell.