James E. OConnell II, 80, passed away in Sedona, Ariz., on April 20, 2010. He was born Sept. 11, 1929, in Helena to James E. Eddy OConnell and Eve Weaver OConnell.
He grew up in Helena and graduated from St. Thomas Military Academy in St. Paul, Minn. He was a corporal in the U.S. Marines and served in the First Marine Division in Korea. He attended the American Institute of Baking in Chicago and received an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Carroll College in 1998.He married his childhood sweetheart, Murel Redd, on March 9, 1955. He worked with his father Eddy OConnell, founder of Eddys Bakery, until it was sold in 1963, and he was division manager of Eddys Bakeries in Minneapolis from 1955 to 1959. Jim became vice president of Capri Insurance Co. in 1967, in connection with Glacier General Assurance Co. of Missoula. He was president of Capri Inc. until retiring and was chairman of the board until December 2009. Jim was also the trustee of Treacy Co. Foundation until his death.When he was younger Jim raced stock cars in the Helena Valley, but his great passion was skiing. Jim loved Montana powder snow and served as president of the volunteers for the Belmont ski area when his children were racing. He served as president, vice president and secretary-treasurer of the Northwest Ski Association throughout the years and was treasurer of the United States Ski Association in 1976. He traveled around the U.S. and Europe with his family skiing with the Ski Association for many years. He loved spending weekends with his children and grandchildren at Bridger Bowl and skied until he was 65. He and Murel took their family on many vacations around the world, and his sense of humor and companionship will be greatly missed by all of us.
Jim was a great humanitarian and supported many of the local charities in the Helena area and around the country. He was awarded the Four Georgians Legacy Award for his lifetime of contributions to the city of Helena in July 2009. He served on the Small Business Administrations Advisory Council in 1969 and was president of the Montana Safety Foundation in 1969. He was chairman of the YMCA Building Fund Campaign in 1970.Jim was a longtime friend of Carroll College, starting with OConnell Hall, which was completed in 1966 and named for Jims father, J. E. (Eddy) OConnell, the chairman of Carrolls Development Council and a generous benefactor. The family tradition continued, with Jim and Murel renewing the commitment by offering significant gifts to the colleges many undertakings over the years, including the Fortin Science Center campaign. As a member of Carrolls board of trustees from 1981 to 1998, Jim offered bold leadership, served on many critical committees and held the post of board chairman for six years. In 1998, the college conferred its Business Appreciation Award on the James OConnell family for their staunch support of Carroll. Jim and Murel also received the colleges Borromeo Fellowship Award and the Insignis Award.
He left behind his wife, Murel of 55 years; his six children, Linda OConnell of Missoula, Lori OConnell of Alanta, James E (Cindy) OConnell III of Tucson, Ariz., Kelly (Jeanne) OConnell of Kalispell, Kimmy (Lee) Skiftun of Helena and Patti OConnell of Redmond, Wash.; his 10 beloved grandchildren, Becci, Andy, Darci, Erin, Meaghan, Michael, Sean, Patrick, Thomas and Marissa; and two great-grandchildren, Darin and BreAnna; a sister-in-law, Eileen (Glenn) Breed of Moscow, Idaho; three nephews; and more than a dozen great-nephews and nieces.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Eddy and Eve OConnell; uncle, Frank OConnell; and his cousins, Gloria OConnell and Abbie OConnell.
Jim will be missed by all who knew and loved him and future generations will miss his smile and the chance to hear his wonderful laugh. Jim, like his father, was a great gentleman.Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 30, at the Cathedral of St. Helena at noon.Please send memorials to charities of the donors choice.
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