Anthony O'Reilly

Anthony Benedict (Tony) O'Reilly passed away, Friday, June 15th, 2012 in Springfield’s Mercy Hospital, after a short illness. Tony was born April 23, 1925 in Ferdinand Indiana, the last surviving son of Charles Francis (C.F.) O'Reilly, founder of O’Reilly Automotive, (10/31/1883-11/19/1974) and Anna Klara Paulina (Scheiper) O'Reilly (6/29/1887- 12/11/1945). In 1927, C.F. move the family to the Springfield area to the family home he had built on forty acres on West Sunshine. Tony Graduated from St. Joseph School, and attended St. Agnes and Greenwood High Schools’, prior to his enlistment in the US army in July 1943. Tony, together with his brother John, was initially stationed at the New Orleans port of embarkation as an MP. He later transferred into the paratroopers, and finally was deployed to France and Germany in January 1945, crossing the Atlantic on board the Queen Elizabeth. He served at the rank of T-5 Corporal in the 1st Battalion, 405th Regt,. 102nd INF Division in the Rhineland Central European Theater until January 1946, at which time he re-enlisted and continued his service in the mop-up operations in Germany until his second honorable discharge in November 1948.
Tony retired from the automotive business in Lebanon, Missouri in 1982 where he had worked in partnership with his brother, John O’Reilly since the early 60’s. Never one to sit idle, Tony kept himself very busy in retirement. He had a passion for travel to, and learning of exotic places and he took many exciting trips, among them an extensive tour of Machu Picchu in Peru. Tony’s other passion was his cars, the many of which he meticulously maintained. Among them, a 1959 Triumph TR-3A in which he took a two week, 4500 mile driving tour through Mexico. Tony was member of the parish of St. Francis de Sales in Lebanon where he regularly attended mass.

Tony was an especially kind and gentle soul, he would extend a helping hand to anyone in need. Having no children of his own, he was very close to his family of brothers and sisters, and extended family of 30 nieces and nephews, which he treated as his own children. All the family and his friends can attest to his warm, generous behavior, and his kind spirit, always going out of his way to help whenever, and whoever he could. To many of his nieces and nephews, Tony was like a second father figure. He was an excellent story teller, prolific letter writer and wonderful brother, uncle and friend. Tony’s presence in the lives of his family and friends was an immense blessing, his passing is of such great sorrow to us all. He will be greatly missed and well remembered by all who knew him.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents and eight siblings; Michael Byrne O'Reilly, Mary Louise O’Reilly Arnold, Charles Henry O'Reilly, Sister Mary Antonia O’Reilly, Claire Marie O’Reilly Koch, Joseph Francis O'Reilly, John Francis O’Reilly, Mary Ann O’Reilly Schlesinger; his nephew Dennis O’Reilly and youngest niece, Kelly J. Ray
Surviving him are his sister Catherine O’Reilly Anderson of Springfield, and twenty-eight nieces and nephews; Michael B. O’Reilly Jr., Thomas P. O’Reilly; Mary Agnes Silberstein, Anthony P. Arnold Jr., Charles G. Arnold, Ellen V. Himebaugh; Charles H. O’Reilly, Rosalie C. Wooten, Lawrence P. O’Reilly, David E. O’Reilly; Louis F. Koch III, Stephan E. Koch, David C. Koch, Matthew J. Koch, Cecilia A. Padgham, Luke A. Koch, Gregory J. Koch; Julia A. O’Reilly, Joseph F. O’Reilly Jr., Kathleen L. Smith, K. Maureen Blum; Paula K. O'Reilly-Green, L. Patricia O'Reilly, Erin L. O'Reilly, L. Jane Riley, J. Scott O'Reilly; Shawn M. Lorenzen, and Abba J. Anderson; and numerous grand nieces, nephews, and great-grand nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday June 18, 2012 in St. Agnes Chapel with Father Mike McDevitt celebrant. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Monday until service time in St. Agnes Chapel.

A private family interment will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday in Calvary Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Disabled American Vets of the Ozarks, Ozarks Food Harvest, or the Southwest Missouri Humane Society.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.