Edward Eugene "Gene" O'Brien was born on February 10, 1925 to
Frank and Mary O'Brien. He passed away on June 20, 2019.
Gene is survived by his wife, Shirley; three step-daughters, Vicki Lane
(Randy); Lesa Bailey; and Dr. Kelley Bigpond (Bobby), and two stepgrandchildren,
Heather Bailey and Matthew Bailey. Gene is also survived
by one sister, Katie Roberts of Dallas and one brother, Frank O'Brien of San
Antonio. He has numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding him in
death was Fr. Forrest (Babe) O'Brien, Wayne and Henry O'Brien and
Rosemary Hayes and Ethel Powell.
Moving to Tulsa from St. Paul, Kansas at the age of five, Gene suffered
from polio and never fully recovered. This left him with a limp for the rest of
his life but he never let it stop him from enjoying life to the fullest extent;
nor did his parents baby him. He was treated exactly like his brothers, taking
his turn at milking the cow, doing yard work, and also having a job
delivering papers. His many stories to our family kept us entertained and we
heard them over and over...such as the day he tried to collect his paper route
money from a lady who appeared at the door with no clothes on! He ran
away without the money!
Gene was an avid golfer and pilot. He received his pilot's license when
he was 18 years old. Many planes were bought and sold throughout his life
and he also built three hangers at Jones Airport.
Marrying for the first time at a late stage in his life, he acquired a readymade
family and always commented, "These are the best years of my life."
His family will tell you also, that he made them the best years of their lives.