Joseph John O'Brien Jr.

Joseph John O’Brien Jr., age 80, of Magnolia, Texas, surrounded by his loving family, peacefully passed away on October 6, 2024. He was deeply cherished by his family and friends, and his presence will be greatly missed. Joseph was born on July 24, 1944, in Redding, California, to Joseph John O’Brien Sr. and Rebecca Bell Hacker-O’Brien. When he was five years old, the family moved to Texas.

Joseph attended Christ the King Elementary School, followed by Baker Junior High School and Mary Carroll High School. He was passionate about sports throughout his school years and remained active all his life. He was an avid sports fan, spending many hours watching games on TV.

To family and friends, he was affectionately known as “Joey,” a name that remained with him throughout his life.

A talented athlete, Joey played as a starting running back and linebacker for his high school football team from 1959 to 1961. He was the leading scorer in 1961, averaging 7.0 yards per carry, contributing to the team’s impressive 8-2 record. Coach Ashton once remarked that “Joey was one of the finest players he ever coached.”

In recognition of his athletic prowess, Joey earned three letters in football from 1960 to 1962 and was offered a full scholarship to Tulane University in New Orleans. He played for Tulane for a year before transferring to UT-Arlington, where he continued his football career and was named All-Conference. Joey was drafted by the LA Rams and participated in their pre-season training camp, but a knee injury ended his playing days. In 2018, his achievements were honored with an induction into the Carroll Tigers Athletic Hall of Fame.

Joey earned a degree in Accounting from UT-Arlington and went on to become a Certified Public Accountant.

His professional career began in the oil industry as a parts warehouseman in Jordan. Over the years, he rose through the ranks, holding management positions with Conoco and British Petroleum (BP) in Dubai, Alaska, and Venezuela. He also invested in and managed several commercial and government-use properties. After a successful career, Joey retired to Oil City, PA, followed by Rockport, TX, and finally Magnolia, Texas, where he lived out his remaining years.

Joseph is survived by his beloved wife, Candace, and his children: Lauren McDavid (Nathan) of Spring, Texas; Joseph O’Brien III of Salt Lake City, Utah; Jeffrey O’Brien (Dana) of Shymkent, Kazakhstan; Jennifer Link (Scott) of Cave Creek, Arizona; and Barbara Isidore (Jason) of Phoenix, Arizona. He also leaves behind eleven grandchildren: Owen, Zachary, and Logan McDavid; Danny and Allen O’Brien; Sarah, Jenna, and Payton Link; Preston, Jack, and Halle Isidore; and one great-grandson, Bowden Link. Joseph is also survived by his sister, Rita O’Brien of El Dorado, California; his brother, Robert O’Brien, and sister-in-law, Cindy, of Corpus Christi, Texas; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Services will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78415.

Family Viewing: 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Friends & Family Viewing: 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Spiritual Service: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Graveside Burial: 3:15 p.m.

Following the graveside service, a meal will be served in the Banquet Hall at the Funeral Home. During this time, a celebration of Joey’s life will be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Joseph O’Brien Jr. to St. Jude’s and Arbor Day Trees.