James Daly O'Neil

JAMES DALY O’NEIL (“Jim”), 81, third-generation native Arizonan and lifetime Phoenician, passed away on Sunday December 28, 2025 surrounded by his loving family, the warm care of The Beatitudes and grace of Hospice of the Valley.

Jim was born to James Thomas and Ruth Anastasia Coles O’Neil in Phoenix on January 28, 1945. Raised in a large family with six siblings, he grew up attending Saint Francis Elementary and later Brophy College Preparatory, where he was an elite, triple varsity athlete (“Automatic Auggie”) and honors scholar (“Foggie Auggie Doggy”). Jim then received his Bachelor of Arts in History and English in 1967, followed by his Juris Doctorate in 1970, both from his beloved University of Arizona, where he added to a well-rounded education time hashing for sororities, dancing the alligator at Sigma Alpha Epsilon (Legacy) and completing service for multiple scholarships. He was a born student and inquisitive academic, celebrated as valedictorian of his law school class and finishing top 1% in his state bar exam.

Jim met the love of his life, Mary Ann Bonsall from Glendale, Arizona, herself a third-generation Arizonan, and despite the absence of a reasonable diligence period, married soon thereafter (August 29, 1969). ‘There is an exception to every rule,’ he would joke, ‘which means there is at least one rule with no exception’. If the heart is certain, logic is illogical. When he first saw Mary Ann, he just knew. Jim and Mary Ann were married for 56 years - an accomplishment, success and blessing from beginning to eternity.

Jim practiced law for 53 years as a loyal shareholder with Ryley, Carlock and Applewhite. He was renowned in his professional community and beyond for both deep and broad knowledge of the law and meticulous attention to detail. Many of his partners and clients became friends and family. In his free time, Jim loved reading and gardening, sports (particularly basketball and football, or whatever the grandkids were playing), fishing and traveling to Mexico Lindo and The Emerald Isle. He was a proud member of the Irish American community and actively participated in all things Irish with his children and grandchildren.

Predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Carolyn Corbet and Ruthi Brownell, he is survived by his wife, Mary Ann O’Neil, sons Jason and Tim O’Neil (Aleka), daughter Dr. Bridget Stiegler (Dr. Travis), sisters Jane and Mary O’Neil, brothers David and Tom O’Neil, grandchildren Hailey (25), Lucy (18), Brady (16), Daly (14), Roic (11) and Josephine (9), nieces, nephews and in-laws.

Services will be held at Brophy Chapel, 4701 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85012, Saturday January 31 at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, etc., please consider a ‘Tribute Gift’ to support the remarkable caregivers at Hospice of the Valley: https://www.hov.org/donate/donate-now/.