Leo Edward O'Hearn

Leo "Ed" Edward O'Hearn Jr. was born on February 1, 1939, in Moberly, Missouri. He passed away on December 7, 2023, following a battle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was 87 years old.

Ed is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Paula O'Hearn; his son, Patrick (Sharon) O'Hearn; his daughter, Tamara O'Hearn-Amman Ph.D.; his grandchildren, Breht OHearn, Cassaundra Amman, and Chelsea Amman, MS; his adored Pomeranian, Flora, and cat, Slinky. Ed was predeceased by his son, Warren O'Hearn, MBA, CPA, CAA; his sister, Mary (Donald) Dodge; and his parents, Leo Edward and Oranette O'Hearn.

Ed and Paula met at a roller-skating rink in Missouri in 1955; they dated and wrote letters to one another while he served in the Air Force as an ocean search and rescue Airman and engineer stationed in Singapore and Hawaii. He placed first in the aerospace division of the USAF and was a natural athlete. Ed also led a group of Air Force base kids to win a baseball championship. Though the USAF offered him a promotion to continue, he returned home to marry Paula on August 7, 1958.

Ed studied math and aeronautical engineering at Syracuse University and joined General Electric as part of their new aerospace division. He distinguished himself working for the federal government in a career that took the family to Oklahoma City, Florida, New York, and Fort Belvoir, Virginia, transitioning through G.E., Martin Marietta, and Lockheed Martin. In his lifetime, he spoke with astronauts in space and maintained spy satellite systems for the Central Intelligence Agency, serving as both a lead engineer and manager of his unit. To satisfy his inventive mind at home, he designed and built homes and rebuilt classic cars; he was a rock for his family.

Despite his stellar career, Ed was a humble man who loved playing golf, boating, and RVing with his bride. He befriended every animal he met, often having a family of raccoons visiting at the back patio or caring for birds, squirrels, and a conga line of deer at his Branson, Missouri home. Ed had a witty sense of humor and, even when he developed dementia, would serenade his cat and conned a team of nurses into bringing him Coca-Cola by refusing his medication, undeterred by offers of water until they provided his favorite beverage. Until the end, Ed was humorous, willful, and charming. Despite his illness, he could still win at mini golf, navigate around the retirement community with his coffee friends, and love his wife, children, and grandchildren. He will be horribly missed by his family and everyone who knew him.