Carolyn Louise O'Neil, 81
Carolyn Louise O’Neil, 81, of Missoula, passed away surrounded by her family, on Saturday, March 11, 2017.
She was born on Dec. 6, 1935, in Enid, Oklahoma, and was a graduate of Tulsa Central High School, Class of 1954. She moved to Kalispell with her family in 1965 from southern California.
In 1979 Carolyn was voted in as a board member of Flathead Industries and served in various capacities as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. She was also head of the Personnel Committee for many years. Carolyn participated on the Building Committee, Nominations Committee and Long Range Planning Committee. She resigned from the board in August of 2002 in order to assume a paid position as Flathead Industries’ administrative assistant. She held that position until her retirement in July of 2008. Her support and love for Flathead Industries was never questioned and many things she implemented are still maintained to this day.
Carolyn always gave back and was an active member of her church and joined a Christian Medical Missionary group. She made a trip to the Ukraine where she helped take medical supplies to a camp for special children suffering from the Chernobyl melt down in 1986. She came home very sick but was also able to help bring two Ukrainian boys to Kalispell, for a month over two summers.
Carolyn moved to Missoula in 2008 to live with her daughter and son-in-law and be around her grandchildren and great- grandchildren and watch them grow up.
She was preceded in death by her sister Velma Jeanne Barnett, her daughter Anita Hamilton, and her son Richard Hamilton.
She is survived by her daughter Jeanne Ann Wilson and son in-law Brian Wilson, her grandson David and wife Bert Keith and their children, Connor and family and Maddy, Dalton and Lorelei. She also leaves her granddaughter Nicole Stewart and her children, Landen, Isaac and Adeline, her granddaughter Jess Keith, and her granddaughter Brianna Wilson and children, Jesse and Lexi of California. And let’s not forget “Barbara.”
Her Aussie fur-family will also miss her terribly as she was the resident Granny Nanny for Big Sky Montana Mini and Toy Aussies.
Carolyn was an amazing woman, full of grace to the end of her generous life. We were lucky to be a part of her family and will miss you Mama, Gma, Granny and Mrs. O. Her last words to us as she took a sip of water, was “Tastes just like chocolate milk, isn’t that sweet,” and she smiled.
A celebration of life gathering will take place for her this summer.