Joseph James "Jay" O'Brien, 84, of St. Paul, passed away at 5:22 p.m., Tuesday, January 30, 2024, in the Emergency Room at Labette Health in Parsons.
He was born on December 19, 1939, a lifelong resident of St. Paul to Joseph Andrew "Joe" and Mary Cleo (Duling) O'Brien. He grew up near St. Paul and attended the Lone Elm one room country school where his mother taught. Jay went on to graduate from St. Paul High in 1958.
Jay was Co-Owner of O'Brien Rock Company, and later, O'Brien Ready Mix which has been family owned and operating since 1945. Jay helped build the current ranching operation located near Edna, Kansas and the ready-mix expansion into SWMO & Northwest Arkansas. Jay was also past president KRMCA and member of KLA.
Jay was active in and supported his local St. Paul community/schools his adult life. Jay served as mayor in 1977 along with serving on the city council. Jay was one of the founding members of Osage Village, was on the board of directors for Exchange State Bank, and currently served on the Prairie Mission Retirement Village board of directors.
Dad's passion in life, along with his family, included traveling, history, and taking his family to Estes Park, Colorado yearly. Dad loved his shortcuts when traveling; it took 2,500 miles to arrive in Estes Park. We truly will miss his trips!
He and Mauricia M. Vitt were married on January 9, 1960, at the St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. She preceded him in death on September 3, 2020.
He is survived by his two sons, Michael J. O'Brien, and his wife, Melinda of Kansas City, MO and Dwayne M. O'Brien, and his wife, Tari of Pittsburg; his two daughters, Lisa A. Lalicker, and her husband, Jason of Lawrence and Lynn D. Greenough, and her husband, David of Parsons; 14 grandchildren, Arlie Diederich and husband Ryan Diederich, Jarrett Dauben and wife Whitney, Elizabeth Lalicker, Kathryn Lalicker, Shelby Fisher and her husband Bennett, Landon O'Brien, Sherie Bradley and husband Doug, Brandon Greenough, Sara Greenough, Abbie O'Brien, and Conner O'Brien and his wife Haydn; nine great-grandchildren, Gus Diederich, Patton Diederich, Colt Dauben, Molly Dauben, Case Dauben, Carter Dauben, Caden Greenough, Holden Fisher, Alyssa Bradley, Shay Bradley, Gabe Bradley and Dawson O'Brien; five brothers, Owen O'Brien, Robert O'Brien, Louis O'Brien, Dennis O'Brien and Martin O'Brien; seven sisters, Jolene Born, Margaret O'Toole, Rose Mary Debler, Julia Peter, Ginger Heere, Betty Jean Holt and Lou Ann Fike and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to his wife, Jay was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Felix O'Brien and Eugene O'Brien.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, February 3, 2024, at the St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul, with Father Theodore Khin celebrating. Burial will follow in the St. Francis Cemetery. The Rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m. Friday at the church. The family will receive friends at the church following the Rosary. Memorials are suggested to the St. Francis Catholic Church, and these may be left at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home 403 Main St., St. Paul, KS 66771 or mailed to Carson-Wall Funeral Home P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
