Jay Charles O'Brien

Jay Charles O'Brien passed away on May 25, 2024. Born on July 30, 1953, to Charles Dallas O'Brien and Hilda Clara Hanisch O'Brien, Jay was a native Houstonian. He graduated from the University of Houston and October 20, 1979, he married Cheryl Lynn Palmer, beginning their life together in Houston, Jay pursued a career as an inland marine insurance adjuster before graduating from the South Texas College of Law. He practiced insurance defense law and later served at the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

After he retired, Jay began his next phase in life as a volunteer. He served as a reserve ranger for several years with the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. He especially enjoyed time at Camp Casa Mare, watching the girls mastering sailing skills, and Camp Robinhood, enjoying the woods and trails. He was also a certified camp cook for the Girl Scouts and, over the years, participated as a volunteer cook for many community events at various camps. Inspired by his father-in-law, Dick Palmer, Jay also volunteered at the Houston Methodist Hospital for several years, however, his favorite volunteer job was at the Houston Museum of Natural Science where he was a docent, leading tours for HISD school field trips. He thoroughly enjoyed the youth he interacted with as well as his fellow volunteers. Last summer, Jay combined his scouting and museum volunteering talents by giving the Astronomy Special Interest Group at the Girl Scouts a personalized tour of the museum.

In addition to volunteering, Jay enjoyed traveling. In April, after a Solar Eclipse cruise that included visiting Hawaii, Jay declared it "the best vacation ever." He also enjoyed escaping the summer heat in Houston by going to Canada, Norway, The Netherlands and Iceland on extended cruises. In addition, Jay was a frequent visitor to national parks, places he enjoyed very much.

Predeceased by his parents and only sibling, Flynn Dallas O'Brien, and his father-in-law, Jay is survived by his wife of 44 years, Cheryl, he is also survived by his mother-in-law Ruth Palmer, brother-in-law Tom Palmer and his wife Valerie and several cousins.

Donations in memory of Jay may be made to the Houston Museum of Natural Science (https://www.hmns.org/) or to the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council ( https://www.gssjc.org/).