Nov. 22, 1944 – Feb. 21, 2003

Former Prairie City resident Richard “Butch” Arthur O’Brien, 58, of Moro, died unexpectedly at his home on Feb. 21.

He was born Nov. 22, 1944, in Klamath Falls, Oregon, the younger of two children to Donald S. and Sarah Alice (Dick) O’Brien.

Mr. O’Brien was raised and educated at Prairie City where he graduated from high school in 1963.

He played pro baseball in the Boston Red Socks minor league for a year then attended Eastern Oregon State College and served in the Oregon National Guard.

On April 22, 1967, he married Janet Pawson in Portland.

In Portland, he was employed by Pacific Northwest Bell, became product manager and retired after 25 years of service.

After his retirement, he started a fishing guide service on the Columbia and John Day rivers.

In 1998, he settled in Sherman County. On Oct. 14, 1998, he married Frances Mary Cadwell Tindall in Reno, Nev. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and enjoyed hunting, fishing, “playing farmer” and spending time with his family.

Mr. O’Brien is survived by his wife, Frances Mary O’Brien; his children and their spouses, Erin and Jeff Gibbs and their daughter, Courtney, of Gresham; Jill and David Boman and their children, Hannah and Luke, of Okanogan, Wash.; stepchildren and their spouses, Lindsay and Seth vonBorstel and their son, Breck, of Yigo, Guam; Kim Tindall of Moro; Bunky and Kelly Tindall and their daughter, Sydney, of Lebanon and Pee Wee Tindall of Wasco.

Memorial services will be held at the Wasco Methodist Church at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, with the Rev. Chuck Boman officiating. Private cremation was held at The Dalles Win-quatt Crematory with Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Memorial contributions can be made to Special Olympics, 3325 N.W. Yeon St., Portland, OR 97201 or Sherman County Athletic Foundation, in care of Chris Moore, P.O. Box 191, Moro, OR 97039.