James Scott O'Brien, 82, of Salisbury, MA. passed away on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 at his home after a short illness.
Born in Lawrence, MA on September 11, 1926, he was the son of the late Richard and Beatrice O'Brien of Ballardvale, MA. He was the husband of the late Jayne (Goodwin) O'Brien. They were previous residents of North Andover, MA and Vero Beach, FL. He was also the brother of the late Joan (O'Brien) Yancey of Norwood, MA.
A United States Navy WWII veteran he served in the South Pacific aboard P.T. Boats and the USS Sutton DE 711 in the Atlantic. A graduate of Punchard High School, Andover, MA, Class of 1944, and a graduate of Merrimack College, Class of 1952. He was employed by Coca-Cola in Atlanta, GA and retired after 30 years with General Motors Corporation.
Jim served as an officer and committee member of the Lawrencian Ski Club, Merrimack College Alumni, Knights of Columbus 3rd Degree in Andover and 4th Degree in Lawrence, American Legion in Andover and VFW in Amesbury, Salisbury Beach Betterment Assn, and the Vero Beach Elks. He enjoyed tennis, skiing and golf. He was a parishioner of the Star of the Sea Chapel in Salisbury Beach and of Holy Cross Church in Vero Beach FL. He was also a licensed real estate broker and a Notary Public.
He is survived by his brother-in-law Robert Yancey of Norwood, MA, and his sister-in-law Marilyn Goodwin of Gilford, NH along with nephews Robert Yancey, Jr. of Shoreline WA, Scott Yancey of Eagle River Alaska, Mark Yancey and his wife Sarah of Sandpoint, ID, Paul and Mark Goodwin of Gilford, NH and Jill Goodwin Hegner and her husband Ken Hegner of Kissimmee, FL. Also surviving are four grandnieces and grandnephews: Coby and Riley Goodwin of Gilford, NH and Grace and Alden Yancey of Sandpoint, ID as well as several cousins.
His funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, January 16th, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in Saint Joseph's Church, 22 High Vale Lane, Andover (Ballardvale) MA.
Burial will follow at the Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Peabody, MA.
Family and friends may call on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 35 Merrimack Street, North Andover, MA. For online condolences and other information, please go to www.breenfuneralhome.com.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the: James S. '52 and Jayne O'Brien Endowed Scholarship Fund, Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike Street, North Andover, Massachusetts 01845.