Begin forwarded message:Trying again! PaulPaul Petrich Jr
From: California Islands Curiosity Correspondent <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: The Legacy of Lil Connally (1933-2020)
Date: August 6, 2020 at 11:33:19 AM PDT
The Legacy of Lil Connally (1933-2020)
Lillian Mae Connally, 87-year-old matriarch of Island Packers, passed to the
great island in the sky on Tuesday, August 4—and what a legacy she leaves! It
began in 1950 when this farmer's daughter from Laton, CA, was literally swept
off her feet onto an Indian motorcycle by the dashing and adventure-loving
Texas-born, Bill Connally, four years her senior. They headed south, married
in Tijuana and settled down to raise four children in Granada Hills while
Bill worked as an engineering technician for Rocketdyne.
With four active pre-teen and teenagers to keep busy, in 1965 the family
moved to the beach at Oxnard Shores where Lil and Bill Connally purchased the
sport-fishing boat, Verna F, giving the family a project together. On
Mother's Day 1968 the legacy was born when the boat, re-christened Island
Packer, was launched. Four gold stars after the name represented the four
Connally children: Mark, Kirk, Brad and Cherryl.
The Connallys bought a little travel-trailer and placed it at the top of the
launch ramp at Ventura Harbor where Lil sold boat tickets to Frenchy's Cove
on West Anacapa Island. The kids served as crew. Bill Connally did the
advertising:
Twelve years later, with the creation of Channel Islands National Park in
1980, Island Packers became the exclusive boat concessionaire. Public
interest in the islands began growing, as did the office, which moved onto
Spinnaker Drive next to the park offices. As boats came and went, Lil held
fort at the office, often arriving with a crockpot of lima beans and ham
hocks, or a tray of brownies. She packaged ginger cookies for those who might
get seasick, and rented binoculars for better wildlife viewing for their
customers. Always kind and thoughtful, Lil often brought her aging
mother-in-law to the office to sit and knit while she tended to business.
Lil's amazing pioneer spirit, lively humor and fun-loving personality—well
known to all who crossed her path—made her a welcome presence in our lives.
Her pranks are legendary. Who else cold get away with sabotaging the
honeymoon suite at the San Ysidro Ranch during a friend's wedding—
short-sheeting the king-sized bed and lining the toilet bowl below the seat
with saran wrap?!
Lil's legacy carries on through her children, Mark, Kirk, Brad and Cherryl.
Coming full circle fifty-two years later, grandson Jason is captain of Island
Packers' trips to Anacapa Island.
Lil Connally may the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face.
And may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.
Respectfully submitted,
Your Faithful California Islands Curiosity Correspondent
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