Eugene Caldwell O'Brien

Eugene "Obie" O'Brien

Like the dynamic musical compositions he loved, Eugene "Obie" Caldwell O'Brien's life was its own sweet song. Born on May 20th, 1938 in Mullins, South Carolina, he lived an active 78 years until falling asleep in death on June 26th, 2016.

Obie began piano lessons at age four, which had a lasting impact on his life. By age 17, he was accepted to the prestigious Juilliard School of Music, but his family could not afford to send him there. So he joined the United States Air Force band instead, playing the King trombone for the next 24 years.

Obie's music career took him all over the world, mostly throughout Asia, where he performed with famous jazz legends of the day. One memorable performance involved inaugurating the Space Needle at the 1962 World's Fair, his first visit to Washington State.

In 1972, he met Cely in his home base of the Philippines, and they married three years later. Cely began studying the bible with Jehovah's Witnesses in 1988, a decision Obie opposed. But a year later, he changed his mind after hearing kingdom songs being sung through the open windows of the Kingdom Hall while waiting for his family in the car. He started arriving earlier and earlier to hear the songs. After a friendly visit inside he said, "I think I have found the truth."

Although Obie loved the Philippines and wanted to stay, he was evacuated to the U.S. along with his family when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991. They settled in Silverdale, and he was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness in 1997. From this time forward, Obie dedicated his life to his God, Jehovah, serving as a full-time minister for a total of 14 years and a ministerial servant in the Silverdale congregation until his death.

He is survived by his wife Cely; siblings Jim, Dan, and Rosemary; children Pamela, Sherri Ann, Ronnie, Allan, Ana, Maricel and Jenny; grandchildren Lindsay, Cara, Casey, Devin, Nichelle, Andrea, Alana, Celi, Rafael, Esme and Asher; and great grandson Benjamin.

Obie deeply believed in the bible's promise of a resurrection and the hope of seeing his loved ones again. At that time, he'll look for us--and we'll listen for him.