Jack F O'Neil Obituary | Jack F O'Neil Obituary

Jack F. O'Neil, 83, of Lakewood, WA passed away on June 28, 2025.
Jack was born Sept. 23, 1941 in Omak, WA to John F. O'Neil and May O'Neil (Flannigan). His childhood with his sisters, Jean (Dunbabin) and Mary (Langin), on the family ranch and island playground in the Okanagan River in Riverside, WA, while not always easy, would forever be memories that he cherished, shared with his own children and went back to fondly. He was always most interested in his homesteading family history and Irish ancestry. The family later moved to Lakewood where he graduated from Clover Park High School, rabble-roused a bit (as he would say) and built lifelong friendships. Jack served in the Air Force Reserves as well as a short active duty at McChord Air Force Base. He graduated from the University of WA and was a proud Husky ever after, taking great pride in being the first of his family to graduate from college.

He and Francis Merrill (Allen) married in 1966 in Lakewood, later moving to Spokane, WA in 1972 where they raised their young family, again forming deep friendships professionally and personally. Their three kids enjoyed Manito Park as their front yard; neighbors and colleagues became dear family friends. He was a member of the Spokane Home Builders Association for many years and a founding member of what is still an annual Lake Roosevelt "fishing" houseboat trip with cherished friends met in the home building industry. Jack spent the last 34 years back in the Lakewood area and enjoyed his new family chapter as Papa O, grandfather. He shared with his grandkids his famous sense of humor, appreciation of their uniqueness, love of a bargain and how to enjoy an "RBF" (root beer float). Ice cream, sweets and a good joke were things he enjoyed up until his last days.

Jack, Johnny, Dad, Papa O, will be remembered for his keen sense of humor, his fierce and loyal lifelong friendships, his entertaining MC abilities, campfire stories, love of a cold beer, nine-lives feats, bargain hunting and tool hacking talents, and mostly, his great pride and joy in his three children and his six grandkids.

Jack is survived by his two sisters Jean Dunbabin and Mary Langin, children John F. O'Neil, Katie O'Neil and Kelly O'Neil Baker, his former wife Frances Allen (Merrill) and their grandchildren. The family welcomes any memories and photos on this page. Thank you.