CARBONDALE — Owen “Jerry” O’Malley, 82, died at 2:35 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in Manor Court nursing home in Carbondale.
Jerry was born March 18, 1933, in Pekin, to Isabelle (Nelson) Ruish O’Malley and Owen O’Malley. They divorced when Jerry was quite young and his father moved to Chicago. Jerry was raised by his mother and grandfather, Ed Nelson. Also important from an early age were Gordon and Maude Hyatt and their extended family, with whom he remained close throughout his life.
Jerry had an older half sister, Marjorie Ruish Brown, now deceased; and a younger half-brother, Patrick O’Malley, who survives in Chicago.
Jerry graduated from Pekin Community High School in 1951. He was a factory worker at Corn Products in Pekin for about 10 years, during which he took classes at night at Bradley University in Peoria. He then attended Eureka College full-time, graduating in 1965 with a degree in English. From there he came to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where he earned a master’s degree in theater in 1967.
From 1967 to 1981 Jerry was an editor at Christian Board of Publication in St. Louis. During that era, CBP produced magazines and church school curriculum for a consortium of Protestant denominations, including Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), United Church of Christ, Presbyterian, United Methodist, and American Baptist. His primary job was editor of “Catalyst,” a monthly magazine for older youth.
After teaching in the St. Louis public school system, he moved back to Carbondale in 1990 as a publications editor and writer in the SIUC public relations office. He retired in 2001.
Jerry was married to Laraine Wright in St. Louis on his 40th birthday, March 18, 1973. Although they divorced 11 years later, they remained devoted to each other. She survives in Carbondale.
Jerry was kind, generous, funny, unassuming, gentle, and genuinely interested in people. He loved comedy movies and television shows and telling jokes and making people laugh. He was constantly losing his keys, but he could recount detailed stories about his childhood.
Jerry’s many dogs were all rescued from shelters or taken in as strays. They included large and small mixed breeds, pugs, terriers, and Chihuahuas. He also adopted guinea pigs and hamsters. Rural mice found cozy shelter and breeding space in his house and car. Periodically he had to confront the problem, but eviction always made him sad. Any cricket or spider found indoors was carefully ushered back outside.
Jerry enjoyed his hometown, returning often throughout the years and attending the annual Class of 1951 reunions of the Chicken Coop Gang.
Friends became his family. These included a group who first met at Bethany Christian Church, created in the 1960s to help those in need in St. Louis, Loretta and Don Wilson, Marian and Doug Jones, Carol and Richard Hinder, Ann and Charlie Watts, Don Pelsue and the Ambus family, particularly Cornell and Darryl. Jerry and Laraine owned a home on Laclede Place and retained a close friendship with neighbors Jack and Judy Dyer.
Among the many people in Southern Illinois he enjoyed being with were Marilyn and Trina at Mary Lou’s Grill; Ching and Esa of Happy Reunion; the staff of Indian Creek Kennel; the staffs of Kroger and Schnucks; his neighbors Janice, Elmer, and Franklin Petrie; his lunch friend, Henry Polk; Leona Cicka, who included him in her family’s holiday celebrations; and his longtime fishing buddy, Keith Frick, and Keith’s wife, Margaret.
Special appreciation goes to those who reached out to Jerry toward the end of his life. He was grateful for your visits, phone calls, cards, and homemade treats. We thank those who were kind to him at Prairie Living, Manor Court, and Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Jerry was a member of the Humane Society of Southern Illinois, Friends of Giant City, Friends of McLeod Summer Playhouse, and the Southern Illinois Audubon Society. For years he helped Laraine monitor a bluebird trail at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.
Saddened that SIUC had earlier closed the McLeod Summer Playhouse on campus, Jerry started a public petition campaign in 2002 to restore it as a regional entertainment event and a valuable learning experience for theater and music majors. He collected more than 2,000 signatures and presented them to the SIUC administration. He was credited for helping to convince the university to restore funding. Today, the Playhouse is once again an exciting and appreciated theater experience.
Those who wish to honor his life may make a donation to the McLeod Summer Playhouse, SIUC Theater Department, Mailcode 6608, Carbondale, IL 62901, or to any animal shelter.
Burial and memorial events for Jerry will be private.
Huffman-Harker-Walker Funeral Home in Carbondale is assisting the family with arrangements.
Friends became his family. These included a group who first met at Bethany Christian Church, created in the 1960s to help those in need in St. Louis, Loretta and Don Wilson, Marian and Doug Jones, Carol and Richard Hinder, Ann and Charlie Watts, Don Pelsue and the Ambus family, particularly Cornell and Darryl. Jerry and Laraine owned a home on Laclede Place and retained a close friendship with neighbors Jack and Judy Dyer.
Among the many people in Southern Illinois he enjoyed being with were Marilyn and Trina at Mary Lou’s Grill; Ching and Esa of Happy Reunion; the staff of Indian Creek Kennel; the staffs of Kroger and Schnucks; his neighbors Janice, Elmer, and Franklin Petrie; his lunch friend, Henry Polk; Leona Cicka, who included him in her family’s holiday celebrations; and his longtime fishing buddy, Keith Frick, and Keith’s wife, Margaret.
Special appreciation goes to those who reached out to Jerry toward the end of his life. He was grateful for your visits, phone calls, cards, and homemade treats. We thank those who were kind to him at Prairie Living, Manor Court, and Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Jerry was a member of the Humane Society of Southern Illinois, Friends of Giant City, Friends of McLeod Summer Playhouse, and the Southern Illinois Audubon Society. For years he helped Laraine monitor a bluebird trail at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.
Saddened that SIUC had earlier closed the McLeod Summer Playhouse on campus, Jerry started a public petition campaign in 2002 to restore it as a regional entertainment event and a valuable learning experience for theater and music majors. He collected more than 2,000 signatures and presented them to the SIUC administration. He was credited for helping to convince the university to restore funding. Today, the Playhouse is once again an exciting and appreciated theater experience.
Those who wish to honor his life may make a donation to the McLeod Summer Playhouse, SIUC Theater Department, Mailcode 6608, Carbondale, IL 62901, or to any animal shelter.
Burial and memorial events for Jerry will be private.
Huffman-Harker-Walker Funeral Home in Carbondale is assisting the family with arrangements.
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