Marilyn Smith O’Brien, 77, a Northland resident of Kansas City, MO passed away peacefully on January 17, 2023, at the St. Luke’s North Hospital on Barry Rd. She was born January 16, 1946 Tupelo, MS to Harmon and Mary Magdalene (O’Donnell) Smith. They preceded her in death.
Marilyn graduated high school in Tupelo and went on to earn her MA in Counseling from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. A love for people and a passion for work, led to a long and rewarding career as a therapist in a couple of Kansas City area hospitals. She was devoted to the betterment of mental health and was always placing the needs of others first. Marilyn was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed most all music.
She married Dr. Raymond W. O’Brien in 1981 in Shawnee Mission, KS. In addition to Raymond, survivors include a son, Hunter Markwell O’Brien of Kansas City, MO; a daughter, Clancy Catherine O’Donell O’Brien of Oak Ridge, TN; two brothers, Harmon Smith of Durham, NC and Michael Smith of Tampa, FL; and her beloved granddaughter, Kaylie O’Brien Of Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert and Murray Smith.
Family and friends will gather to visit and celebrate Marilyn’s life from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday, January 23, 2023, at the Meyers Northland Chapel in Parkville. Memories of Marilyn and condolences may be shared at Meyersfuneralchapel.com.
Donna and I are deeply saddened and grieve at news of the death of my dear and beloved sister Marilyn and send our affectionate good wishes to her family. You will surely miss her as will we. Distance makes it impossible for Donna and me to be with you but we believe that we ae somehow present; and I have happy memories of many long distance telephone conversations (frequently just before a Chief’s game!). I want you to know that immediately upon receiving Hunter’s word of her death I prayed the Burial Office for her rest in God’s eternal company and that I continue to offer prayers for the repose of her soul. She is at peace now. We love you.
She was Patsye in our youth. A beautiful little sister to her four older brothers – Sonnye, Buddye, Bobbye and Mike. The “e” on the end of nicknames was a curious spelling even for a Mississippi native, but mama Maggie
liked it that way. As the new baby girl in a family of rough and tumble boys, Miss Patsye was adored by all.
And she returned that love, always proud of her older brothers in their life pursuits which took us all on separate and distant paths. As a result, Patsye was met with the duty of caring for our elderly parents at home. When
our Daddye died she had not finished high school. So, she and our mama were taken to live with her brothers’
families. It was about this time that Sonnye, Buddye and Bobbye dropped their nicknames and became
Harmon, Murray, Robert and our Patsye became Marilyn. Our dear sister didn’t have it easy moving from school to school from Mississippi to North Carolina, to Kansas and actually finished her high school degree in Puerto Rico. Our Patsye took it all in stride and never complained and that – more than anything always amazed
this brother Mike. Even with her recent illnesses she was always positive and resolute despite the danger.
That is the courage I admired in her. Whether you knew her as Marilyn or Patsye she will live in our hearts
forever. I love you my sister. God keep you till we meet again.
Michael O. Smith
My dear wife Marilyn died of complications of heart and lungs.This was Monday the 17th. ,the day after her 76th birthday making her 77. These were great years. We had a great life together and I miss her profoundly .She was always kind to others and put them first. I’m thankfull for the beautiful words from her brothers, and others who will follow. With love Raymond “Jay” O’Brien.
Mom was a wonderful woman, so full of kindness and love for everyone she saw. Every day, growing up, she would show me her limitless creativity with different projects that she would try, and even teach me. She had a love for movies and would always have one playing. This was closely tied to her love of music; shown by her turning up the volume whenever you would hear John Williams or Barbara Streisand. She also had sense of adventure, finding places to visit with her clients or family, always wanting to find something interesting when picking up me or Kaylie from school. She loved planning surprises; picking me up from school with a cat sitting in the back of her Lumina van, or surprising my dad with a new little puppy. She was funny and generous and so full of so many stories that I look forward to sharing with others. I miss my mom dearly, and know that her love will not be forgotten.
I love you mom.
So sad to lose another cousin love to her Family and Brothers
So sorry to hear of Patsye’s passing. We spoke on the phone I guess after one of our hurricanes. Have lost track of so many of the cousins over the years. See Kevin Driscoll occasionally. He lives near by. I remember our trips to aunt Maggie and uncle Harmons. You all could sing so well. I lost my husband Robert in 2021. Kathy let me know of her passing.
Mom, we were so close. I miss you to say the least. You always made me feel good after coming home from anything that made me feel less than. I can’t express the sorrow I feel and I doubt I ever will be. Talking about this is hard but I’m saying what I can. I love you so much and I want to say one thing I know you understand.
“Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
Sue, my wife, and Patsye were college roommates which is where I first met this vibrant young girl. She was always full of life and shared that energy with so many. Patsye was so giving with her many talents and made a difference in our lives. She will be missed and I will never forget her loving personality.
Gary Fox
Jay, Hunter, & C.C.,
My Sympathies to your family. I met Patsye through my best friend Sue Fox. Those two women together always guaranteed a fun time! They were both beautiful and so talented; Sue on piano and Patsye singing…what fun they had, and may now carry on again. May light perpetual shine on Patsye , as it does on Sue, in God’s heavenly kingdom.