Family Acknowledgement

The family of Connie St. John wishes to express their sincere thanks and appreciation for the many prayers and acts of kindness shown during Connie's illness and during our time of bereavement. Your prayers and support will forever be remembered. The family also wishes to thank Heart to Heart Hospice for their compassionate care of their wife, mother, grandmother, and sister during her illness. Thank you for helping us navigate the journey of Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, Les would like to express his thanks to all his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren for their various loving acts of kindness and participation in Connie's care. Great grands often brought a smile to Connie's face. Finally, the family would like to thank Jennifer and Cort Stargell who unselfishly and unconditionally opened their home and cared for Connie in the last two years of her life. No words can ever express our gratitude and appreciation for the love you bestowed on our wife, mom, grandmother, and sister.

Connie was born on February 26, 1943, in upstate New York to Hazel Soules. She lived in the town of Norwich with her sister, Sylvia, her Uncle Clifford, and her mother. Connie committed her life to Jesus when she was a youth at church camp and shortly after was baptized in her local church. Her sister and her lifelong friend, Ginny, both testify from her salvation forward, Connie lived her entire life believing God's grace, mercies and provisions were sufficient. Her role was to bring honor and glory to God with each of her actions and thoughts.

In the 1950's, as a student, Connie studied and developed her talents related to her love of music. She was a flautist in her high school symphony and sang in many events, which included her local church, evangelical street meetings, and for Radio WCHN. As a high school senior, she was also selected to participate in the singing of Handel's Messiah for the New York State Capital Assembly in Albany, New York. This experience enriched the rest of her musical life.

As a youth, Connie met the love of her life, Les, at summer camp. They lived in different cities but remained connected through written letters and occasional visits which included sleigh rides, double dates, ice skating, and walks on his family's property. Their relationship blossomed leading to engagement during the Christmas of 1960 and marriage on July 8, 1961. They celebrated sixty-two years of marriage together. They are the parents of five children: Tim, Dan, Mark, Jennifer, and Becky.

In 1962, they began their life as an Air Force military family. Their tours of duty included New York, Arizona, The Philippine Islands, Louisiana, and Vietnam/Thailand. Connie was a supportive, brave, and dependable military spouse. She was a firm foundation. While Les was in Vietnam, she participated in and led numerous Bible studies. One study that impacted her was the daily devotional Streams in the Desert (Cowman, 1925). She would share this book and its principles of Godly living and encouragement with many others, including her children during her lifetime.

After their time in the military, for the next twenty plus years, Connie and Les chose to raise and nurture their children in New York and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Connie was a loving mother to all five of her children. She was known for her sacrificial actions, empathy, optimistic advice, support, delicious cooking, and praying over her children. Her children recognize that despite their modest means their home was filled with authentic and sincere love. Each of her children reference her as a Proverbs 31 virtuous woman.

Connie loved and treated her children by marriage as her own. She became a grandmother through each of her children and loved each one dearly. She encouraged each grandchild to begin and grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ. She took time to visit, sing to them, and engage in prayers-both with them and on their behalf. Connie provided them opportunities to go to church camp and VBS. She taught them cooking and life skills. Homemade cookies and blankets ranked as their most cherished gifts.

Connie's career life included being an educator and a teacher's aide. She loved supporting students who found learning challenging. She was named, Teacher of the Year in 1998, at Victory Christian Academy. She retired from the Arlington ISD in the early 2000's.

In all the locations that Connie lived, she shared her love and relationship with Jesus Christ through word and music. She worshiped God and blessed people with her voice through the forms of solo work, choirs, and musical ensembles. Additionally, she led numerous Bible studies and worked in various ministries including Pastor's wife and mentoring teenage girls. Throughout this journey she made numerous friends because of her kindness, adaptability, ministry to the church body, and compassionate spirit. She was a member of Pleasantview Baptist Church.

Connie knew her illness with Alzheimer's would lead her to death, but she was never afraid because she knew she would meet her Savior. Although the illness impacted her memory, she never lost her sweet disposition. Throughout her illness she was known to say sufficient because she was referencing II Corinthians 12:9, "My Grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Music still spoke to her and encouraged her during her entire illness. On August 9, 2023, surrounded by her husband Les, her children, grandchildren and great grands, Connie entered the gates of Heaven and met her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Connie was preceded in death by her mother, Hazel Soules, her uncle, Clifford Gayle and her in-laws, Donald and Carrie St. John. Connie is survived by her husband, Leslie W. St. John; sister, Sylvia Lee and husband Fred; brother-in- law, Donald Martin St. John; and sister-in-law, Mary Merrit. Daughters: Becky Finagan and husband Chris; Jennifer Stargell and husband Cort. Sons: Timothy Clifford St. John and wife Carrie; Daniel St. John and wife Gerri; Mark L. St. John and wife Anne-Marie. Granddaughters: Stephanie Higgins and husband Brandon; Sarah Arnold-Nixon and husband Brandon; AnneMarie Hughes and husband Jacob; Kristen Wetzel and husband Clint; Allison St. John; Hannah Stargell; Jessica Wall and husband Jonathon; McKay Ross and husband Angus. Grandsons: Daniel LaRue St. John and wife Cassie; Timothy Paul St. John and wife Nikki; Jonathan St. John; Zack Stargell and wife Savannah; Joshua St. John and wife Tara; Sam Moss and wife Jennifer; Caleb
Moss; Jonah Moss and wife Madison. Great grandchildren: Mandee, Londyn and Jaxon Hughes; Isabelle, Elanor, Liam, Desmond, and Cassian Stargell; Andrea and Addison Higgins; Adeline, Liliana, and Grayson Wall; Grant and Hudson Wetzel; Gatlyn and Wrenley St. John; James and Noah Moss; Zoe St. John; Ruthie Lee Moss. Additionally, numerous nieces, nephews, lifelong friends, church family and extended family.

Celebration of Life Service

Pleasantview Baptist Church

4400 Pleasantview Drive, Arlington, TX 76017

August 29, 2023, 10:30am

Burial at The DFW National Cemetery

Flowers may be delivered to the church on August 28th before 4:30pm.

The family wishes for memorial contributions be made to

The John Reno Family, Missionaries to Brazil,

through The Bible Brethren Church,

17829 Woodcrest Road, Hagerstown, MD 21740