The Life of Willard "Mac" John McConnell
Willard "Mac" McConnell was born on March 9, 1924, in Portland, Oregon, to John Laney McConnell and Anna Victoria Chilade. As the youngest of three brothers, Willard was called "Willie" growing up and was known as Mac in his personal and professional life. He grew up among a close-knit family of his mother's brother and sister's families--the Chilades and the Copenhagens. Cousins Les and Don Copenhagen were like brothers to him.
Mac loved sports and was a top athlete in his youth. He played basketball and baseball--an accomplished pitcher and shortstop. New Year's Day was sacred in the family household where it was known that no "honey dos" were allowed. It was a day meant for nonstop football watching. He particularly enjoyed rooting for the Oregon State University Beavers, win or lose. He proudly wore his Orange and Black colors saying, "We'll get 'em next year. Go Beavs!"
After high school, he followed his brothers, Shelly and Laney, into the Air Force to serve his country during WWII. He attended radio operator school in Colorado and completed his training just as the war ended. He returned to Oregon where he enrolled at Oregon State University to study business and joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. After three years, his desire to serve his country compelled him to rejoin the Air Force during the Korean War. At one time brother Shelly was the pilot on a mission where Mac was assigned as the radio operator. It was an extraordinary and cherished experience for the brothers to fly together on the same plane--a practice that is no longer in place.
During military leave in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1950, he and other Air Force buddies were crossing the street. Mary McDonald and her friend Marjorie "Pottsie" Potts almost ran over them with their car. The guys told the girls they were looking for a certain pancake restaurant of which the girls replied, "You don't want to go there. Hop in...we'll take you to a good place." While there, Mary was talking with the other guys and ignoring Mac. He got her attention when he said, "Would you get your fat elbow off my napkin?" She was smitten, and they dated for the rest of the weekend before Mac shipped out for Korea. Mac stayed in touch by writing letters and drawing cartoons, and a year and half later he returned to Atlanta where he asked her to marry him after just another weekend of dating. They were married on December 13, 1952, and spent their honeymoon driving across the country to Portland, Oregon, where they would make their home. Mac and Mary were together for 49 years until Mary's passing in the fall of 2002.
Mac began his career in the shipping industry and worked for many years as the Traffic Manager for American Mail Line which became American President Lines. He was known as one of the first traffic managers to bring cargo ships down the Columbia River to the Port of Portland.
Mac and Mary were blessed with two daughters, Susan Lynn (Canaga) and Sally Jo (Galver). Just eleven months apart, the arrival of the girls certainly changed their lives. Mac was an uncommon man and father. He jumped right in and changed diapers, soothed crying babies, and read bedtime stories--often using funny voices and expressions as he read along. His carpentry and artist talents changed focus to building a sandbox, decorating birthday cakes with Huckleberry Hound and Yogi Bear images, and carving the most fantastic Halloween pumpkins. Mac taught the girls to swim and to play the piano, as he was an accomplished player himself. He could really get the lamp shade on the piano light to "wiggle with the beat" while playing one of his "Boogie Woogies." Efforts to teach them to fish did not go so well, but they took on his love for gardening and the outdoors. His landscapes, both in the front yard and back, were always beautiful and garden-like. Many wonderful camping trips filled their summer vacations, and he was a master at setting up the campsites with tarpings to keep the rains off their heads so they could enjoy playing cards and games, putting together puzzles, and eating their meals he helped prepare over the fire and camp stove. He called them "his boys", but his girls were truly dear to him, and he never denied them the opportunity to use any of his power or hand tools. He was good to frequently say "I love you" and "I am so proud of you." You can see the love he had for his daughters captured in his eyes in their wedding pictures as they began the walk down the aisle. He warmly welcomed his son-in-laws Steve Canaga and Johnny Galver as if they had been part of the family all the time.
Mac and Mary moved to Washington after the shipping industry suffered greatly during the recession of the 1970's, and American President Lines closed the Portland office. Mac found opportunity in Seattle, where he worked for shipping and trucking companies until his retirement in 1994.
Along the way, Mac became a grandfather--first to Stephanie Marie, Sally's daughter. Camera film was always on the shopping list. Three years later, Sally's second daughter, Samantha Jo was born. Samantha had a medical emergency at just 4 months old, and this extraordinary grandfather pitched in to help with the special care without hesitation. Susan's first, Scott McConnell, was born a year after Samantha--finally, a boy! And then Susan's second, Kelsey McConnell, was born two years later. Kelsey was a special treat for him since she looked so much like Susan as a baby.
Mac was well known for his great humor and creativity. He was always quick with a pun, just waiting to see if you "got it." He would always chuckle, especially if you could fire one back. This became a lifelong practice with both of his daughters, much to the groans of their friends! It was referred to by others as "The McConnell Humor." All who knew him will have some memory of the way he made them smile. His artistry lives on in the oil paintings he painted for professional colleague offices, friends and family member homes, and for his own personal enjoyment.
We will miss you Mac, Willie, Grandpa...Dad