Obituaries

James M. “Jim” O’Neill, 81, of Union, Kentucky, passed away on October 24, 2026. Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, Jim was the son of Martha (Hogan) O’Neill and Jim O’Neill, and was lovingly raised by his stepmother, Virginia (Jones) O’Neill.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty L. (Hawthorne) O’Neill. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Patricia “Patsy” O’Neil, father, mother, and stillborn son Patrick.

Jim earned an engineering degree from Northeastern University and an MBA from Dartmouth before serving as an officer in the United States Army during the Vietnam era.

Jim is survived by his children, Margaret O'Neill Brown (Michael), James Joseph O’Neill, and Catherine Patrice Kendrick (Jesse); grandchildren Gabrielle Anne Grubb (Foster), Audrey Catherine Brown, MaKoy Allen Hawkinson, Ian Michael O’Neill, and Mackenzie Ann Rash; and great-grandson Noah Grubb; and several nephews and other relatives.