Larry W. O’Brien, 96, of Kansas City, MO, died peacefully at home, October 22, 2015, with his children by his side.
Larry was born February 28, 1919, the second son of Luke W. O’Brien and Frances Fette O’Brien. He grew up in Kansas City and in Lee’s Summit, MO, where at a young age he developed a love for farming the land and raising livestock, a passion that remained with him throughout his life. Larry attended Rockhurst High School and was a member of the Rockhurst College class of 1940. He was a veteran of WWII, serving as a naval officer in the South Pacific. Larry and his wife Betty began raising a family and farmed in south Jackson County until the mid 1950’s, transitioning to a career in real estate sales and development in Grandview and South Kansas City. Larry was a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Catherine’s Parish, a founding member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, and belonged to various civic organizations.
Larry was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Betty Quirk O’Brien; by son Patrick O’Brien and daughter Marian O’Brien White; by granddaughter Tara Cable and great-grandsons Brandon and Bennett Dickey; and by sisters Eileen Donovan and Patricia Walsh, along with brothers Tom, Frank and Eugene.
Larry is survived by six children and their families: Don O’Brien and wife Catherine, Terry and Tim O’Brien, Eileen Dupuy and husband Rich, William O’Brien and wife Ava, Bob O’Brien and wife Yvonne, together with the families of deceased children Patrick O’Brien and Marian O’Brien White, including her surviving husband Dave White and wife Judy. Larry also leaves the families of his deceased siblings and the families of four surviving sisters: Betty Markey and husband Bill, Kathleen Havey, Anne Mulcahey, and Mary Francis Raimo.
A memorial reception will be held on Sunday, November 1, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the family home, Windy Hill. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Seton Center of Kansas City, or to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, whose exceptional caregivers provide kind and invaluable support daily to area families.