Lyle Lynn O’Brien, longtime Seattle-area resident, died on Dec. 6 in Port Orchard. He was 76.
Lyle was born on May 3, 1940 in Monahans, Texas to Ellis Henry “Pat” O’Brien and Mary Vergie Carr O’Brien, who were longtime cattle ranchers in Texas and Montana. He attended public schools in Monahans and Miles City, Montana, and graduated from the University of Montana at Missoula in anthropology. He served in the U.S. Army Intelligence in Western Europe and North Africa.
An archeologist with a focus on Great Plains Native Americans, he spent many years doing field archaeology in Montana, Arizona and North Dakota, and taught at the college level, as well. He worked as a cartographer and retired from the U.S. Census Bureau.
He was a member of the First Lutheran Community Church of Port Orchard and also served as a Southworth Buccaneer. He participated in many Mountain Man Rendezvous and was a Boy Scout leader. He had fond memories of his youth 4-H involvement and was an accomplished silversmith who took great pride in gifting these beautiful jewelry pieces to his loved ones.
Lynn had a magnetic personality that drew others to him. He was a born leader with a generous spirit and great sense of humor. With a home like a museum, Lynn was an avid collector of treasures that he generously bestowed on family and friends. He could not pass a garage sale or a secondhand store without stopping. In addition, Lynn was very proud of his Irish heritage and passed that on to his children. He had many favorite Irish ballads and ditties, and loved to entertain and delight others with his baritone voice and harmonica.
He battled cancer for the last year and gently passed in his home, just as he had wanted. The family is grateful to all of the friends and family who came to care for Lynn and visit as his disease progressed. These important visits lifted his spirits. Lynn will be sorely missed by his numerous friends and grieving family. Right up to the end, he was hugging, kissing and, of course, joking with all of his dear ones. The family is thankful for the excellent care he received through the Hospice Multicare System of Kitsap County volunteers and staff.
Lynn was dearly loved by his family and he adored his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his children Patrick Denver O’Brien (Hillary) of Port Orchard; Darcy Lynn O’Brien Alban (David) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Connor Harrison O’Brien of Bremerton; Liam Henry O’Brien and his girlfriend Heidi; and Fiona Anne O’Brien, all of Port Orchard, and the mothers of his children, Carol Wright and Marcie Martin of Port Orchard. He also is survived by his brothers George Van O’Brien and his wife Dorene of McRae, Arkansas, and Truman Ellis O’Brien (Mary) of Vashon; grandsons Garret Patrick O’Brien, Keegan Bidwell O’Brien, Shadmon Evan Alban and Henry Lynn O’Brien; cousins, nieces and a nephews; and a multitude of other family and friends throughout his life.
A memorial service will be at the First Lutheran Community Church of Port Orchard at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16. He will be buried at the Retsil Veterans Home Cemetery of Port Orchard. Online is a memorial and tribute wall at www.rill.com.
