Mac McConnell

Victor "Mac" Hugh McConnell passed away peacefully on April 7, 2009, in Mountain Home.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 10, 2009, at 11 a.m., at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.

Mac was born on May 31, 1932, in Oakland, Calif., to Orville E. and Opal E. (Conklin) McConnell. He was raised in the Meridian area, graduating from Meridian High School.

Soon after graduating from high school he began his 42-year career with Idaho Power Company. It was while he was working in American Falls he met his future bride, Mary Ellen. He and Mary Ellen Barrett were married on Sept. 22, 1960.

Mac worked the majority of his career as a Power Plant Operator. He worked at the American Falls Plant, CJ Strike Power Plant, the Hells Canyon Complex and Lower Salmon Power Plant. He and Mary spent 19 wonderful years in the Hells Canyon Complex working in all three plants. It was in the "canyon" they raised their family, Wayne, Patti, Eddie and Cory. He finished his career with Idaho Power at the Lower Salmon Power Plant in Hagerman.

In his retirement he enjoyed traveling, square dancing, trips to Jackpot and mushrooming in McCall. The shop was where you would find him daily, in a cloud of sawdust, working a new set of plans. Sharing his finished Intarsia projects brought him his greatest joy.

Mac was a man of many names, his childhood friends called him Hugh, the Idaho Power Family knew him as "Fluff," his nieces and nephews called him "Uncle Bub," to Doris and Cathy he was "Pops," to his granddaughters he was "Grandpa" and his children called him "Daddy," once in a while "Old Fart."

Mac is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen; daughter Patti and Jim Osborn; sons Ed McConnell, Cory and Maria McConnell, Jon Wayne McConnell, granddaughters Amanda and Sarah Osborn and Lindsey McConnell, brother-in-law Morris Easley, nephew Greg Flores, nieces Theresa Flores and Rebecca Davis, extended family Cathy Capella and Doris Earl.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Mary Lou and baby sister Donna.

Memorial donations can be made to the Shriner's Children's Hospital or the Idaho Youth Ranch.