Carl Cecil McConnell

Born December 23, 1931 in Massena, NY, the son of Cecil S. and Winona M. McConnell. He graduated from Massena High School and enlisted into the Army Reserves in 1951. He dropped out of college in 1952 and requested to be discharged from the reserves. He then enlisted into the active Army, proudly serving in the Army Security Agency for three years during the Korean War and Cold War. Following his military service, he returned and graduated from the State University of New York, College of Technology.

Following employment with an insurance company as a safety engineer in Glens Falls and Syracuse, NY, he accepted employment with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (1959-1977) as Director of Motor Vehicle Inspection and later as Director of Automotive Safety Standards. In 1977, he accepted the position of Manager, Engineering Research and Administration with the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMVA), Detroit, MI. Mr. McConnell retired from the AAMVA in 1996.

Mr. McConnell held memberships in the Plymouth-Ann Arbor Elks Lodge 325 (a lifetime member) and the American Legion, Post 32, Livonia. He was a 40+ year member of the Ward Presbyterian Church, Northville, MI. After retiring, he and Mrs. McConnell spent their summers and falls at their cabin in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York and some winters in Florida.

Mr. McConnell was very active in high school sports and continued some sporting activities into his later years and enjoyed golf into his late 80s.

Mr. McConnell married Doris A. Kinney, the love of his life, on February 27, 1954. She was the daughter of the late Willis and Grace Kinney of Massena. Mrs. McConnell predeceased Mr. McConnell on July 13, 2014.

Surviving are his son Kim D. (Jennifer) McConnell of Buckly, WA and a daughter Carla J. (Thomas) Gorton of Highland, MI; two grandsons and four granddaughters and one great grandson and one great granddaughter. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two sisters, Wanda M. Robertson and Vada M. Strader.

Visitation for Carl will be held Wednesday, August 18, 2021 from 1pm-9pm at Harry J. Will Funeral Home, Livonia, MI. A Homegoing Celebration will take place on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 11am also at Harry J. Will Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Carl can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HarryjWillLivonia.com for the McConnell family.