Francis Charles O'Connor

MISSOULA – Francis Charles "Buckie" O'Connor, 89, of Missoula, passed away Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, at home of natural causes. Buckie was born July 16, 1923, in Salina, Kan., and adopted by Michael and Martha O'Connor. He was raised in Tujunga, Calif., where he was educated and met the love of his life, Laura Evelyn Landreau. Buckie and Laura were married on Sept. 21, 1946, and raised eight children. Buckie served in World War II as a staff sergeant for the U.S. Army Air Corps (later Air Force), as a flight engineer and a turret gunner on a B-24 in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1946, married Laura and was then called back to duty to serve in the Korean War. He was again honorably discharged in 1952. He worked in civil service for the Air Force for 35 years, which included working on the Atlas missile program, at NORAD, the drone missile program in Mobile, Ala., and on the B-52s out of Salina. Upon retirement in 1978, Buckie could not just sit still – he became a general contractor, building homes in Lake Arrowhead, Calif. He then went to work for military contractor, TRW on various missile systems as a logistical engineer from 1982 to 1986 when he finally retired and moved to Montana. Laura talked him into volunteering for the Poverello Center in Missoula, which they did for several years. A passion for service was discovered and from there, Buckie became the president of the board at Poverello, the president of the board for Council Groves and for WORD, along with volunteering for the Salvation Army. They moved to Santa Maria, Calif., in 1998 and he continued his work to serve others working for Catholic Charities in Santa Maria and Perris, Calif. Returning to Missoula in 2004, and always looking to serve others, Buckie worked with senior citizens. He had to give up his service to others as health problems began to plague him. He had a great love and devotion for his family, his God and his country. He was very proud to have served in the military defending his country and in the civil service. His greatest joy was to help the poor, the homeless, the elderly and single mothers in need. The world will be a sadder place without him. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters and one brother. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Laura; five daughters, Caron (Jim) of Missoula, Rory (Scott) of Rock Creek, Katherine (David) of Pismo Beach, Calif., Darcy (Bob) of Omaha, Neb., and Maureen (Mark) of Murrieta, Calif.; three sons, Michael (Paula) of Modesto, Calif., Sean (Traci) of Murrieta, Calif., and Kevin (Leslie) of Redondo Beach, Calif.; 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Thursday, Aug. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Garden City Funeral Home with the Rosary at 7 p.m. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 31, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bonner with a luncheon to follow. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery at 2 p.m. with full military honors; Father John Wang and Father Michael Poole will officiate both the Mass and burial.