Ina Lee Connatser

Ina Lee (McGinnis) Connatser of La Plata, Maryland passed away peacefully at the Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC on Wednesday September 18, 2024, at the age of 88. Ina was born on August 29,1936 in Lea Springs, Grainger County, Tennessee to Clarence McGinnis (1906-1965) and Thelma (Summers) McGinnis (1906-1973). After graduating from Friendsville High School, in Friendsville, Tennessee, Ina moved to Washington, DC to go to work for the FBI. She had a successful career working for the Federal Government as an Administrative Assistant and retired in 1995. Ina enjoyed sewing, crafting, playing bingo, going on cruises, and Christmas. She could sew anything, taught sewing classes, and sewed for many people. She was very creative and enjoyed making all types of crafts and selling her creations at craft shows. She enjoyed playing bingo with friends and went on several bingo cruises. With her late husband of 60 years Ralph Dixon Connatser (1932-2016) they enjoyed almost 40 cruises mostly traveling with close friends. She loved cruising to Alaska. Her favorite holiday was Christmas. She decorated the inside and outside of the house. Her creativity won her many community and Town of La Plata decoration awards. The bay windows of the house were decorated with different holiday scenes made up of movable characters just like she remembered seeing in department store windows in the city. The inside of the house was a Christmas wonderland. Almost every room was decorated. She loved snowmen, and they were everywhere. She enjoyed riding around the neighborhood to see all the Christmas light displays. She always made Christmas special for the family with decorations, food, homemade candy, and cookies. In addition to her parents and her husband, Ina was preceded in death by her daughter, Rebecca Diane Connatser (1967-2015), her brother, Clarence McGinnis Jr. (1932-2007) and her brother-in-law John A. Goforth Jr. (1942-2024). Ina is survived by her daughter, Phyllis Ann (Connatser) Hamilton, son, Ralph Dixon Connatser Jr., grandson, Daniel (Kasey) Joseph Cather, and sister, Margaret (McGinnis) Goforth. To honor Ina’s memory, please consider donating to the Charles County Rescue Squad at PO Box 40, La Plata, MD 20646. They assisted Ina on several occasions and the family greatly appreciates their service to the family and the community.

Ina Lee Connatser

August 29, 1936 - September 18, 2024