Connie Dennis

Connie Dennis, 69, passed away at 10:42 pm at Cottage Hospital on Monday, May 7, 2012 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.    She was born July 30, 1942, in Phoenix, Arizona the daughter of Leslie (Jay) Newton and Margaret (Kruse) Thurman.  She married William Marc Dennis on May 22, 1965, of Galesburg. She was preceded in death by her father and step-father, Robert Thurman.      Connie is survived by her former husband, (William) Marc Dennis, her mother, Margaret Thurman,  two children: daughter Shelby (and Kevin) Jones of Abingdon, Illinois; son Anthony Dennis of Phoenix, Arizona, step-daughters Eryn McCulloch (Thomas) of Spokane, Washington, and Kelly Dennis of Washington, DC, sisters Kay Busch of Galesburg, Barbara Zinn of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and Kathleen Hamlin of San Luis Obispo,  California; brothers Leslie Newton, Gary Newton and Michael Newton all of Phoenix, Arizona. Also surviving are granddaughters, Meredith and Katie Jones and two grandsons, Eric Hand and Jon Abrahamson and numerous nieces and nephews. Connie graduated from Corpus Christi High School in 1960 and attended beauty school in Burlington, Iowa.   She worked a number of years at Surprise Beauty Salon in Galesburg as well as being a co-owner of Little King in downtown Galesburg. Most recently, she was employed at Rheinschmidt’s Carpet in Galesburg.   Outside of work, Connie loved gardening and spending time with her family.   She will be greatly missed by those whose lives she touched with her warmth, compassion and affection.  Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday, May 10, 2012 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.  Rev. William Miller, I.C. will officiate.  Burial will be at East Linwood Cemetery directly following the funeral.       Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m.  Wednesday at Watson Funeral Home, with the rosary being prayed at 8 p.m.   In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or Beacon of Hope Hospice at 1020 W. 35th Street, Davenport, Iowa, 52806.