Connie Sue Grounds

Connie Sue Grounds was born June 18, 1941, in Raymond, Kansas. She passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at the age of 76. Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Marjorie Brooks, and her husband, Thomas Micheal Grounds. In high school, Connie was an avid musician playing piano and clarinet and could sing with perfect pitch. She was in a small singing group from Holyrood, Kansas, that performed on TV live from the Hutchinson State Fair in the 1953-1954 time frame. She was a majorette twirler as well as a cheerleader and won several ribbons in track. After high school, she married Tom while he was serving in the Navy and stationed on the west coast. Once honorably discharged of his Navy duties, they lived on a dairy farm with their young son, Tommy, and newborn daughter, Tammy. While living in Wichita, Connie started working for Southwestern Bell Telephone as a switchboard operator, and her husband, Tom, worked as a lineman. During that time, their third child, Micheal, was born. In the 1970s Connie and Tom worked together to found C&T Line Construction, providers of overhead line and underground utility construction services. Connie served as the President initially, as well as a board member and finance analyst for the company. After 14+ years in business they retired. Connie was an avid reader and very active with almost any new communications technology, keeping in touch with friends and family on Facebook and through text messaging. She was the pillar of support to the family as a dedicated wife and a kind and loving mother, but also as a savvy business partner. She was the model of fearlessness and morality who helped her husband, children, and grandchildren to want to be the best possible version of themselves. Connie is survived by her sons, Thomas L. (Vicki) Grounds of Woodland Park, CO, Micheal S. (Kristi) Grounds of Jamestown, ND; daughter, Tamera L. (Kendal) Rush of Augusta, KS; sister, Vickie (Kermit) Hedrick of Hartford, KS, and brother, Ronald L. Brooks of Henderson, NV; grandchildren, Ryan (Joanne) Rush, Erica (Lindsey) Rush, Stephanie (Josh) Tempest, Jessica Rush, Thomas C. Grounds, Matthew Grounds, Austin Grounds, Timothy Grounds, Aaron Grounds, Abigayle Grounds, and 4 great-granddaughters. No service will be conducted as per Connies wishes. The family asks that any donations made in her memory be to either the American Lung Association or to the charity of their choice. Downing & Lahey West. Online tributes via www.dlwichita.com