Obituary of Darrell George O'Leary

Darrell George O'Leary, 77, of Belfast passed away after a long illness on Friday, April 24, 2015 at Waldo County General Hospital with his family and friends by his side. He left us at High Noon, which was one of his favorite Westerns. He was born February 22, 1938 in Belfast and grew-up free-spirited, and near the ocean on Bayview Street. He met his true love, Donna, while both working at McLellan's Store and they married in 1961. He graduated from Crosby High School in 1957 and joined the Air Force. Darrell started bagging groceries at Cottle's Supermarket and worked his way up to store manager at Hannaford for a career spanning 41 years. He was an active member of the Belfast Rotary Club, and a proud Paul Harris Fellow. He was a life-long communicant at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. An avid runner and bicyclist, Darrell rode his bike in the Trek Across Maine for 20 years. He was kind-hearted and a generous people person who knew how to bring magic to the ordinary - and did that for his family and friends every day. He will be fondly remembered for his infinite sense of humor. Darrell was a devoted and loving husband. Dad was softhearted particularly when it came to his daughters; to us he was our man of steel. His six grandkids were the apples of his eye. He was a Grampa beyond compare with a great sense of play; taking them swimming, renting bounce houses, constructing a virtual playground in the backyard. Darrell was predeceased by his father, Ervin Bartlett O'Leary; his beloved mother and stepfather, Ruth (Drew) and Arnold Higgins; sister, Hazel Marcia; Father- and mother-in¬ law, Baxter and Doris Ward; sister-in-law , Brenda Smith; brothers-in-law , Laurance Libby and Baxter Toby Ward; lifelong friend, Hugh Holmes. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Donna (Kimball) O'Leary , of Belfast; daughters, Lisa O'Leary and her wife, Alison Moore of South Portland; Lynne Annis and husband, Matthew of Rockport; Debra O'Leary of Belfast; Jennifer Emerson and her husband, Justin, of Belfast; brother, Basil O'Leary and his wife Linda, of Derry , New Hampshire; sister, Beryl Libby of Stockton Springs; sisters-in-law, Dale and husband, James Kocot of Belfast; and Lynda Ward of Searsport; brothers-in-law, Owen Smith; Jeffrey Ward and wife, Donna, all of Belfast; grandchildren , Zachery and Evan Annis; Graham and Scarlett Peebles; and Caiden and Avery Emerson. A special niece Kelli Grindle-Stone and her children; treasured friends, Ralph Snyder, Harold Jones, and their wives, all of Belfast; as well as many other dear nieces and nephews. A memorial mass will be held at 11:00am on Friday May 1, 2015 at St. Francis of Assisi Church 81 Court St. Belfast, ME. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Waldo County YMCA, 157 Lincolnville Avenue, Belfast, ME 04915 or Waldo County General Hospital, 118 Northport Avenue, Belfast, ME 04915. Arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast. Memories and condolences may be offered to the family at www.ripostafh.com.