Martin Joseph O'Brien

Martin Joseph O’Brien, age 88, passed away Thursday, September 29, 2011. He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 22, 1923, to Charles Henry O’Brien and Martha Marie Grillot O’Brien. He was the eldest of eight siblings and was raised in Saint Francis parish. Martin graduated from Marquette High School in 1941, enlisted in the Army Air Corps in late 1942, and entered active service February 1943. He served as a ball turret gunner in a B-17 bomber, flying numerous missions over North Africa, Italy, and Nazi Germany. After returning stateside, he attended classes at the University of Denver and Saint Bonaventure in western New York, where he studied engineering. He returned to Tulsa where he joined his father in operating O’Brien Meat Company. Alongside first his father and then his two brothers, he worked in the meat packing business, selling in Tulsa and surrounding areas for over 60 years. Martin met Jackie Louise Taylor through her employment at the Tulsa Stockyards. They were married in 1958 and raised four children. Martin raised horses, had many friends in the cattle and horse business, and often attended races at Claremore Downs and later Fair Meadows. Martin was a parishioner at both Immaculate Conception and Christ the King Catholic churches. In recent years, he enjoyed following his grandsons’ participation in baseball and football at Bishop Kelley High School. Martin is survived by his sons Marty O’Brien, Carl O’Brien and daughter-in-law Michele, David O’Brien and daughter- in-law Julie, all of Tulsa, and daughter Shelly O’Brien Yeatts and son-in-law William of Dallas; grandchildren Brandon O’Brien, Taylor O’Brien, Luke O’Brien, Anna O’Brien, Jake O’Brien, Megan O’Brien, Alex O’Brien Yeatts, Elle O’Brien, and Nicholas O’Brien Yeatts; great grandchildren Kieran O’Brien and Swayd O’Brien; sisters Rita Grisez and Lois Joyce of Tulsa and Eileen Decker of York, Pennsylvania; brothers Charles O’Brien and Daniel O’Brien of Tulsa; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased in his death by his loving wife and parents, his sister Frances O’Brien, and his sister Mary Bryan. He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren who, like their parents, learned to drive and spent many hours feeding and tending horses at their Papa’s pasture. Rosary will be held at 7:30 PM Monday, October 3, 2011 at Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, located at 1402 South Boulder, Tulsa, Oklahoma. A funeral mass will be held at Christ the King, 16th and South Quincy, Tulsa, on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at 1:30 PM. The committal service will be at Calvary Cemetery in Tulsa with a reception immediately following at the O’Brien residence, 2615 South Troost, Tulsa. Those unable to attend the burial may gather at the residence after the church service. For those wishing to make donations in his memory, the family recommends Clarehouse, where he spent his last peaceful days, 7617 South Mingo Road, Tulsa, OK 74133, or Catholic Charities, P.O. Box 580460, Tulsa, OK 74158. Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, (918) 585-1151.

Martin Joseph O'Brien

September 29, 1923 - September 29, 2011