David Carr Lane O'Connell

David Carr Lane O’Connell, 88, passed away unexpectedly at home with his wife by his side on January 28, 2026 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

He was born on March 20, 1937, in Cape, the only child of Glenn N. and Millicent Poinsett O’Connell. He was a graduate of Cape Central High School and played on the 1954 State Basketball Championship team.

He and the former Arley Jane Hitt were united in marriage at Third Street Methodist Church in Cape on March 7, 1958.

David worked on the river his entire adult life for several barge lines before he was drafted into the US Army from 1960 to 1962 and piloted boats through the Panama Canal. After discharge, he had a long and distinguished 38-year career as a boat captain with US Army Corps of Engineers working along the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri riverbanks, retiring in 2003.

David is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jane; a daughter Tracey (Brad) Lively; 4 grandchildren, Rex (Alicia) O’Connell, Ethan (Jill) O’Connell, Savannah Lively, and Bronson Lively; four great- grandsons, Chandler, Jace, Lincoln, and Tyson; one great- grand daughter Emmy.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws; and his son, Chris O’Connell.

A private family service will be held at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by scrolling to the guestbook beneath David O’Connell’s obituary article at mccombsfuneralhome.com.