Jeromey O'Brien, 28

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

Jeromey J. O'Brien, 28, of Mountain Home, died following an automobile accident Oct. 21, 2003.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home, from 4-8 p.m. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, in Hanger 201 on Mountain Home AFB. Chaplain Maj.Thomas G. Westall, USAF (ret.) will be officiating the memorial service.

He was born March 15, 1975, in St. Paul, Minn., to Regina and Kevin O'Brien. The family moved to Liberty, Mo., which Jeromey called home, and he graduated from Liberty High School there in 1993.

Jeromey joined the United States Air Force in 1994 with a first assignment to Dover AFB, Del. There he served as a crew chief on the C-5A "Galaxy" cargo aircraft for four years. He then served briefly in the Missouri Air National Guard before becoming a member of the Idaho Air National Guard's 266th Range Squadron (RANS), Mountain Home AFB, in 1999.

As a Ground Radar Technician, he operated the radar equipment and fixed the radars, "a job he truly loved," his family said, adding, "Jeromey's unique ability to become one with the radar, literally, humored his co-workers and gained him the nickname 'Sparky'."

"Jeromey's greatest passion was his family. He met the love of his life, Michelle, in 1994, and married her on June 13, 1995. They were blessed with two children and one expecting."

He enjoyed playing sports and Lego's with his son, Liam Padraic, "and in his eyes his daughter, Aislinn Kathleen, could do no wrong," his family said. "He was very excited and anxious to meet the new addition to his family, daughter Bevin Maraide.

"His sense of humor was a bright spot in the lives of those around him to include his friends at Mountain Home Bible Church and Pinnacle Honor Society."

His commitment to education gained him three associates and a bachelors degree in Computer Science from Park College where he graduated with Summa Cum Laude distinction and a 3.96 GPA. His dedication to self improvement and commitment to his country gained him a selection to become a military officer, his family noted. He was awaiting a class date to attend the U.S. Air Force's Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Ala., at the time of this death.

He is survived by: his wife, Michelle; his son, Liam Padraic; daughter Aislinn Kathleen; soon-to-arrive daughter Bevin Maraide; mother Regina; father Kevin; brother Thomas Jacob "Jake"; his grandmother, Dorothy Cohee, and numerous aunts and uncles.

An Educational/Memorial fund for his children has been established at Pioneer Federal Credit Union and Wells Fargo Bank, both in Mountain Home, for those wishing to make contributions.