Dennis Dave O'Reilly |
| Posted 2009-07-20 by Sharla |
| The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona Wednesday, July 11, 2007 Dennis Dave O’Reilly, age 84, passed away at his home in Tonto Basin, Ariz., on July 6, 2007. He was born in Dallas, Texas on Jan. 18, 1923 and came to Arizona with his parents Pat and Hattie O’Reilly at the age of 9. He always considered himself an Arizonian and truly loved this state. He attended schools as a child in Mayer, Bumble Bee, Morristown and Wickenburg, Ariz. From an early age, his love of the outdoors and the working cowboy lifestyle often defined who he was and made up a large part of his character. In his early youth, he worked in the Golden Turkey Mine in Yavapai County, at Castle Hot Springs Resort, and eventually came to ride many of the cattle ranches in all parts of Arizona. He joined the United States Navy at the outbreak of World War II and served as an electrician’s mate first class for the duration of the war. He served on the Destroyer USS Saufley DD465 in the South Pacific. He left his ship in Shanghai, China at wars end and was honorably discharged in 1945. His position in the Navy prepared him for a longstanding career with APS, which lasted more than 35 years, until retirement in 1981. He progressed from apprenticeship to head of the APS Safety Division, but favored his time as a journeyman lineman working around the Childs power plant in Childs, Ariz., middle Verde wilderness area. After World War II, he married, lived in central Phoenix and helped raise three children. He was a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Phoenix. He volunteers to work fiestas, coaches Little League and softball and provided truckloads of citrus to St. John’s Indian Mission School in South Phoenix. The last years of his life were spent living in Tonto Basin, Ariz., with his animals, old timers, fishing buddies and friends. All will miss him dearly. We regret the passing of a generation of true cowboys, knowing full well that they are the last of their kind. Dennis is survived by his brother Patrick O’Reilly of Phoenix; sister Reba Walker of Sun City; former wife Mazie (Kennard) O’Reilly; son Dennis D. O’Reilly of Prescott; daughter Maureen Delair of Bellingham, Wash.; son Paddy O’Reilly of Tucson; granddaughter Nancy Patrick Shaw of Scottsdale; grandson Peter David O’Reilly of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; and five great grandchildren -- Hannah, Olivia, Patrick, Dennis and Juniper. A remembrance and memorial will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday (July 14) at Messinger Payson Funeral Home in Payson, Ariz., followed by a service at 11:30 a.m. at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Payson. Internment will be 2 p.m. at the Gisela Cemetery in Gisela, Ariz. Dennis had a soft spot in his heart for the Catholic grade school in Globe, Ariz. Anyone wishing to do so may make a donation in his name to Holy angels Church/School, 143 S. Broad St., Globe, AZ 85501. Information provided by survivors. See Also: Find A Grave |
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