Brian O'Reilly

Brian O'Reilly, 78, passed away peacefully at St. Patrick Hospital on January 31, 2024.

Brian was born June 9, 1945 in Dublin, Ireland. He moved to Missoula in 1987.

He is survived by his wife, Rita Docken, his daughter Imogen Reichling O'Reilly, son Hugo Loubersac, grandson Axel, brothers Sean (Eimer) and Richie (Sunniva), sisters Eileen O'Connor and Paula (Muhammed Attia), brother-in-law Louie Moore, sister-in-law Terry Lee-Docken, and many beautiful nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Maureen, and his sister Miriam Moore.

Brian was an amazing gardener and strangers would ask for a tour of the yard because it was so unique and beautiful. He enjoyed working with wood and refinished floors, desks, dressers and chairs, and would spend hours shaping letter openers, sanding them until they glowed. He was in a band, Vanishing Wildlife, when he lived in London and loved playing the drums and listening to music. Brian had a beautiful, soft voice and would tell funny stories and he liked poking fun at himself. Because of his accent people sometimes asked where he was from and he would invariably say "Wisconsin" and if they asked his occupation he would respond with either brain surgeon or FBI agent. He was smart, funny, irreverent and absolutely charming. If you were lucky enough to have him wrap those rock-star drummer's arms around you, you would never forget it.

Our lives will be quieter without him but heaven is certainly a livelier and much more interesting place since he arrived.

If you want to honor Brian's memory please plant some flowers, dance until you're ready to fall down, tell people you're from Wisconsin (especially if it's not true) and give somebody a heart-to-heart hug that you both will remember forever.