Comments:
Info from Ray's twin sister Ellen O'Brien O'Sullivan 3/1/15
In his early 20's Ray was diagnosed with Wilson's Disease. The disease has to do with the copper that is found in food and drink.
Ray's body was unable to filter copper which deposited into liver, causing liver damage, auto immune disease, arthritis, speech defect & eventually death. Ray's prognosis was death by 30, but fought on to age 49.
Ray entered a study which afforded him the drugs that were available at the time. The drugs worked for Ray, sending his disease into remission and he was able to move forward in his life, getting married and having children. He worked for the University of Missouri Medical School, where the Doctors kept close watch on him.
About age 39 Ray's body began shutting down again. He lost his speech and his body became crippled with arthritis. Through prayer and determination he was able to maintain all his daily activities until the end at age 49.
Ray lived in Columbia, MO, was married to another Irish, Laurie, has 3 beautiful red headed children and has 1 grandchild.
At his funeral service, our family estimated about 1500 people. We all agree that in his own way, Ray found a way to communicate and always kept a sense of humor and that "Irish gift to gab".
Info from Ray's Obituary
Mr. O'Brien was born Dec. 2, 1950, in St. Louis to Eugene and Margaret O'Brien.
In 1984 he married Laurie Phelan in Columbia, and she survives.
A graduate of Normandy High School in St. Louis, he worked about 16 years in building maintenance for the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Mr. O'Brien was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, serving as Scoutmaster of Troop 68 and unit commissioner of Troop 705. He was a member of the Boy Scouts' Order of the Arrow. A member of Christian Fellowship Church, he served the church as assistant small group leader.
Mr. O'Brien also was president of the Trails West Home Owners Association and was a recipient of University Hospital's employee-of-the-month award.
Survivors also include three children, Stephen O'Brien, Sarah O'Brien and Mary O'Brien, all of Columbia; his mother; four sisters, Mary Findall and Florence Bamert, both of Charlotte, N.C., and Margaret Pendino and Ellen O'Sullivan, both of St. Louis; and four brothers, Jack O'Brien and Eugene "Butch" O'Brien, both of St. Louis, Pat O'Brien of Charlotte, N.C., and Tim O'Brien of Cape Cod, Mass.
