WILMINGTON — Carolyn Greer Connelly, 77, died Saturday, April 7, 2018, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center following complications from a chronic bone disease.
She was born in Wilmington, April 18, 1940, the daughter of Gardner Davis and Louise Perry Greer. She graduated from New Hanover High School, Class of 1958, Wilmington College (now UNCW) and East Carolina College (now ECU). She taught school at J.C. Roe Elementary School, and later for the U.S. Department of Defense in Alaska, the Far East, Europe and the Middle East.
While in Japan, Carolyn was a Red Cross Volunteer at the Yokota Air Base, where she offered comfort to wounded G.I.s returning from Vietnam.
Her creative and artistic abilities were developed under the guidance and instruction of local artists, Emma Lossen, Hester Donnelly, Claude Howell and others. She became an award-winning artist, participating in a number of domestic and international juried art shows.
Her most recent interest was in painting flowers that are part of the North Carolina landscape, especially those at Airlie Gardens.
In England, she met and married her husband of 45 years, Peter, an Air Force officer and helicopter pilot. Carolyn was a superb hostess who greatly enjoyed planning parties and events wherever she and Peter were posted; they made friends all over the world. She was especially fond of her dogs (and everyone else’s!). She particularly enjoyed cooking and working in her yard.
After retiring to Wilmington, Carolyn was a volunteer for the Republican Party and Airlie Gardens. She was a member of the Carolina Yacht Club, where she enjoyed spending summer evenings rocking on the upstairs porch. She and Peter continued their travels to many places in the United States and overseas.
Survivors include, her husband, Col. Peter J. Connelly; brother, Robert G. Greer, and his wife, Lou; niece, Ashley Greer McCormack, and her husband, Brian, all of Wilmington; niece, Ellen Greer Buffaloe, and her husband, David, of Raleigh; two great-nieces, Megan McCormack and Mary Carson Buffaloe; and one great-nephew, Marshall Buffaloe.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 12, at Andrews Mortuary Market Street Chapel with the Rev. Cameron Hunt officiating. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.
Share online condolences with the family at andrewsmortuary.com.
