Kathleen Cecilia McElligott O'Leary was born August 15, 1927, to Charles and Cecilia McElligott in Portland, Oregon. She passed away August 9, 2024, in Condon, Oregon a week shy of her 97th birthday.
The rose between the thorns, Kathleen was the little sister to brothers, Don and Dick McElligott, and the big sister to LJ (Jerry) McElligott. She spent her carefree childhood on the McElligott Ranch in Eightmile Canyon near Ione, blissfully unaware of the effects of the Depression. She rode horseback with her cousin, Clare Moshofsky, to Davis School under the watchful eye of big brother Dick. That experience cured her of ever wanting to ride horseback again. The family moved to Portland in 1936, always maintaining their Morrow County roots by returning home to harvest in the summer. Kathleen graduated from Immaculata Academy in 1945, spent a couple years at Seattle College before buckling down to earn a teaching degree at Marylhurst in 1949.
While teaching third and fourth grade in Vale, Oregon, Kathleen met many other Marylhurst alums (Marylhurst College was a prodigious producer of farm and ranch wives all over Eastern Oregon) and the fellow teacher who would become her lifelong best friend and eventual sister-in-law, Marie Cray. The two of them ran around with Ruth and Cameron Cliff (Marie's sister) in what would be best described as "gallivanting." A recently unearthed photo album showed them in Burns and California and many points in between living it up as fun-loving, single girls. Kathleen and Marie moved to Lakeview to teach in 1954. It was in this time period that a handsome, young sheepherder swept her off her feet at a Fort Rock dance. Kathleen and Jeremiah O'Leary were married on July 23, 1955 in Portland and after a stint in the service for Jeremiah, settled on their ranch under Winter Rim in Summer Lake where they raised sheep and later cattle. Five rambunctious youngsters quickly filled the house.
Kathleen was a lifelong member of the Catholic church. She played organ at St. John's in Paisley for many years, parking the family in the pew right next to the organ in the event that misbehavior was detected. She was a substitute teacher and taught CCD but mainly was involved in running the household and the ranch. She ran a baler, milked a cow, nursed bummer lambs, and did night checks during calving. She made the best homemade bread in the county and could feed a crew a hearty meal at a moment's notice.
Kathleen and Jeremiah retired from the ranch and moved to Paisley and later relocated to Silver Lake where she got the new house she had been promised for 50 years. After Jeremiah passed away in 2009, Kathleen moved to Bend and later to Condon to be closer to family. Kathleen and Jeremiah were married 54 years before his passing.
Kathleen is survived by her children Tom (Karmen), Anne Morter (Ralph), Chris (Viviana), Julie Currie (John) and Kathryn Greiner (David); grandchildren, Nolan and Barry O'Leary, Clayton and Bethany Morter, Lauren Billman and Jack Currie, Joseph and John Greiner and Julian Salas Rodriguez. She is also survived by countless nieces and nephews and their kids and grandkids. She was preceded in death by a son, Donal O'Leary, husband Jeremiah, and her brothers Don, Dick and Jerry McElligott.
Funeral services will be held Monday, September 9, 2024 at St John's Catholic Church in Condon with a Rosary at 10:15 am and the Funeral at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations to Summit Springs Village Assisted Living, PO Box 687, Condon OR 97823 would be welcome.
Sweeney Mortuary is in care of arrangements. You may sign the online condolence book at http://www.sweeneymortuary.com
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