John Conal Lancaster

John Conal Lancaster

October 21, 1947 – March 7, 2025

Con Lancaster, a devoted husband, brother, uncle, and friend was called home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 7, 2025. He was 77 years old.

Con was born on October 21, 1947 in Boston, Massachusetts to the late John Lancaster and Mary Lancaster. He spent his childhood years in Boston playing athletics becoming an avid sports enthusiast and developed his love for sailing.

A Naval Architect and Engineering Manager with over ten years of naval and academic post graduate experience, Con established J C Lancaster and Associates in December of 1982 providing marine survey services to multiple, international marine industries for more than twenty years. Con earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Michigan in May 1971(Go Blue) and continued his education with the United States Navy at the University of California at Berkeley where he received a Master of Science in Engineering in June 1974. After graduation from the University of Michigan, Con began his naval career with the Naval Sea Systems Command at the Naval Ship Engineering Center in Hyattsville, Maryland with concurrent assignments at Hunters Point Naval Ship Yard in San Francisco, California and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Con was selected as Deputy Aegis Area Commander, Ingalls Shipbuilding in September 1978 responsible for managing the engineering, production, logistic and administrative staff for the project manager of DDG 47 / CG 47 and reported directly to Admiral Wayne Meyer. Upon completion of the project, the Navy prepared to assign Con to other projects away from Pascagoula. Unfortunately for the Navy, Con had fallen in love with the community and ultimately his future wife, Brenda Minyard. Con made the difficult decision to resign from the Navy to begin a new chapter in his life in Pascagoula. He married Brenda in March 1983, and as they say, the rest is history.

Con was a member of several yacht clubs along the Gulf Coast and Florida serving for several years as Commodore of the Gulf Coast Yachting Association. He led the Singing River Yacht Club’s junior sailing program in the 1980s, and reinstated the program around 2020.  He also served as a member of the governing board at Singing River Yacht Club for many years. Con was a mentor to many young people over the years, having shared his knowledge of sailing to generations of club members. He was a faithful member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Pascagoula where he had served as treasurer and a member of the vestry. He actively participated in the community as a member of the Pascagoula Men’s Club.

In addition to his parents, Con was preceded in death by his brother, Kevin Lancaster of San Francisco, California.

He is survived by his loving wife, Brenda, with whom he shared 42 wonderful years of marriage and brother Ross Lancaster (Molly) of Portland, Oregon.

Con’s love extended to his step mother, Joanne Lancaster, of Punta Gorda, Florida. He was a devoted brother-in-law to Neuritsa Lancaster of San Diego, California, Terry Minyard (Sherry) of Centerville, Georgia, and Charlie Minyard (Ann) of Oxford, Mississippi and will be remembered fondly by his many nieces, nephews, and friends, all of whom he treasured dearly.

Friends may attend a memorial gathering 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025 at St. John’s Episcopal Church. A funeral service will be held immediately following visitation in the church’s sanctuary.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to be given in memory of Con to St. John’s Episcopal Church, Pascagoula, Mississippi or CASA of Southeast Mississippi.

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