John O’Reilly

John “Jack” J. O’Reilly, 79, of Wimberley, Texas passed away suddenly at his home on Saturday, May 8, 2021.

John was born to James T. O’Reilly and Mary Marr on September 18, 1941 and grew up in Mt. Airy and Feasterville, Pa. He was known as “Rookie” by many of his close childhood friends from his time playing street ball in the streets of Mt. Airy and the nickname stuck throughout his adult life.

John attended Holy Cross and graduated from Northeast Catholic High School in 1959. During these early years, he participated in the Junior ROTC, danced on the famous American Band Stand TV show, and learned to play the bugle for a Boy Scout merit badge. He went on to join The William Boulton Dixon Jr. Cadet Drum and Bugle Corps and played in parades, numerous celebrations and volunteered to play at WWII Military burials.

John started a successful writing career in eighth grade where he won several essay contests and scholarships with his writing skills and storyteller talents. He continued to write stories throughout his life and will be a published author soon. When John was 15 years old, he met the love of his life, Joanne Lightcap, in the lobby of the Chestnut Hill movie theater. They fell in love and married in 1961. At that time, John was attending La Salle University and transitioned from day school to night school and later graduated with a Liberal Arts degree.

By 1971, they had seven kids and John had a very successful career with IBM. In 1976, IBM relocated him and his family from Philadelphia, Pa. to Austin, Texas where they raised their seven children known as the “Texas Full House.” The name came from the fact that they have four Kings and three Queens. In Texas everything is always bigger and better.

Throughout his life, John stayed active by volunteering in many community organizations. He loved being a volunteer firefighter for the Horsham Fire Department and has always had a kinship to first responders. He also spent many hours with his sons volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America. Once John moved to Wimberley, he became an active volunteer in his neighborhood and became a leader in the Wimberley Alzheimer Support Group.

John’s love for his wife, Joanne, was evident to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing them. They loved life together and spent years raising their children and traveling after they were grown. Later in life, his love for Joanne continued to shine through as he cared for her in the last years of her life.

John’s legacy will be forever as the loving husband and father and the trusted friend and mentor to his family and friends worldwide. He was a great storyteller with a charismatic personality and a great sense of humor. John was also known for his strong work ethic, generosity, and pride for his family heritage. His seven children have now grown the family to over 30 loving individuals who will always be thankful to have had the life experiences with their caring father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

John is survived by his son Sean O’Reilly and his wife Kim; son Michael O’Reilly and his wife Lisa; son Tim O’Reilly; daughter Debbie O’Reilly; daughter Kathleen O’Reilly; son Bryan O’Reilly and his wife, Susan; daughter Tara Osborne and her husband Coby; along with 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Joanne O’Reilly in 2018.

The family will receive friends and family from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 14 at Thomason Funeral Home in Wimberley. A recitation of the holy Rosary will begin at 7 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 15 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Wimberley. The burial will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, followed by a reception at the St. Mary’s Parish Hall. Flowers and/or donations can be made to St. Jude’s Hospital or the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are under the direction of Thomason Funeral Home. For more information and to sign the online registry, please visit thomasonfuneralhome.com.