Verl “Max” Conner, age 78, of Georgia Street, Spindale, NC passed away May 7, 2012 at Hospice House in Forest City. Max was born May 15, 1933 to the late Roy Conner and Perrie Lee Flynn Conner of Gilkey, NC. He worked at Stonecutter Mill as a loom fixer for 20 years, then started his dream job as a driver for Carolina Freight out of Cherryville, NC along side his brother, Marvin. Better known as the “Rockhound” on the CB because of his love of panning gold and minerals, he eventually achieved his dream of flying to Alaska to pan gold and to fish. He dedicated his life to his wife and large family with great vacations and family time. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by 2 brothers, J.C.Conner of Baltimore, MD and Marvin Conner of Spindale, and one sister Elsie Conner Wypasek, of FL. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Fern Hamrick Conner, 3 sons, Billy Max Conner and wife, Dianne of Rutherfordton, David Douglas Conner and wife, Gay, of Rutherfordton, Mack Darren Conner and wife, Nancy of Central, SC and one daughter Deborah. C. Mills and husband, Tommy of Seneca, SC. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren and one brother, David Conner and wife, Elizabeth of Temple, GA. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Thursday at Crowe’s Chapel with his nephew, Rev. Danny Hamrick officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Forest City, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Gilkey Baptist Church, 130 Gilkey School Road, Rutherfordton, NC 28139.