Mary was born in Denver, Colorado on July 30th, 1930. She attended college and graduated from Montana State in Bozeman, Montana where she was also voted Campus Queen. Mary lived in Casper, Wyoming until 1958, at which time she and her husband Ray moved to New York City where Mary was a buyer with a high end clothing retailer before finally settling in Westminster, Colorado in 1960 to raise her family.
The family moved to Cherry Hills Village in 1970 where she raised her five children. Mary and her husband were members of Cherry Hills Country Club and she worked with the Griffith Youth Foundation as Development Director supporting homeless children. After her divorce, she started “Occasions by Mary O’Neal”, a successful Party and Wedding Planning Company. One of Mary’s cherished events was having the honor of planning the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC which hosted several US Senators. Mary owned and operated Gringo’s, a successful Mexican Restaurant and then moved on to work for Front Range Records Search, a company owned by her son, Shawn. Mary also worked for Fortune Valley Casino as an Executive Host for 4 years until the age of 79.
In 1961, Mary was president of the Westminster Altar and Rosary Society. Oftentimes throughout her life, she would serve as a Eucharistic Minister, taking Holy Communion to the sick and the shut-in. Throughout Mary’s entire life, she maintained a very close connection with her Catholic faith, as well as her Irish and Western roots inherited by her parents.
Mary is pre-deceased by her daughter, Michaelene (Micky) and survived by her four sons and their families: son Michael O’Neal; daughter in-law Pamela O’Neal; granddaughter Brooke O’Neal; granddaughter Lindsay O’Neal; son Danny O’Neal; son Shawn O’Neal; son Patrick O’Neal; daughter in-law Cathy O’Neal; granddaughter Meghan O’Neal, and grandson Maxwell Minne-O’Neal.
Due to COVID-19, the Church service and reception have reduced the number of people allowed at the gathering and therefore will be limited to invitation only.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary’s name can be made to Holy Ghost Catholic Church at
https://holyghostchurch.org/
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dignitymemorial.com for the O’Neal family.
Special Blessings to all of her care givers at Rocky Mountain Assisted living.
LIFE IS SO PRECIOUS
