Dallas Dennis O’Brien, 52, of rural Edna, died the afternoon of Saturday, May 13, 2023, at his home. Dallas was born January 3,1971. He was three months old when he was adopted by Robert and Patricia O’Brien.
Dallas attended Chetopa schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade, where he loved to play football. He met Malinda Rice in 1989, then the two were joined in marriage March 28, 1992. He said later, she was the love of his life.
Dallas worked for his parents at the Edna Mattress Factory until 1992, when he joined the Kansas Army National Guard. In 1995 he and Malinda moved to Edna. Dallas attended Coffeyville Community College where he completed a Vo-Tech program and received a degree in welding.
Dallas and Malinda finally got to welcome their first baby boy, Chance Cole, December 17, 1998. Nineteen months later they welcomed their second baby boy, Austin Andrew (Drew), August 1, 2000. In 2001, Dallas’s work took the family to Tallapoosa, Georgia, where they lived for seven months. Soon after, the family moved to Omaha, Nebraska where Dallas worked for Blue Bunny (he loved that job because he got to eat unlimited ice cream) where they stayed for about eight months. After all of the adventures, the family settled back home in rural Edna. In 2004 Dallas began working at the Coffeyville Refinery.
Also in 2004, Dallas and Malinda got to welcome their baby girl, Jolee Beth, November 12t. In his off time, Dallas helped coach his sons’ baseball team. He loved watching his children excel in sports and other activities.
In 2008, Dallas was involved in a car accident, leaving him unable to work. To help fill his days, he helped out on the family farm, as well as went fishing… lots and lots of fishing! He could count on Gabe, Wormy, Zack, Mike, or his two sons to go with him.
Dallas enjoyed spending time with his niece, Kendra, and nephew, Shane, whom he loved as his own. Dallas also loved spending time with his sister, Anita, her husband, Tom, and their four children. He always looked forward to the annual trip to Roaring River on Labor Day weekend. Dallas loved every one of his nieces and nephews so much and was so proud of each of their accomplishments.
Dallas is survived by his wife Malinda O’Brien “PoJo” of the home. In addition Dallas is survived by his sons – Chance O’Brien (fiancé, Michaiah Reynolds,) of Altamont and Austin O’Brien of Bartlett; daughter, Jolee “Pete” O’Brien of the home; His parents – Robert and Patricia O’Brien of Oswego; sister, Anita Roudebush (husband, Thomas) Roudebush, II, of Stilwell; four Nieces, Kendra Rice of Oswego, Olivia Higgins (husband, Boston Higgins, of Kansas City, Adeline Curtis (husband, Jack Curtis), of Kansas City, and Camille Roudebush of Kansas City; two Nephews, Shane Rice ( wife, Lauren Rice) of Chetopa, Thomas Roudebush, III, (wife, Lindsey Roudebush) of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; five great nieces, Nevaeh, Riley, Tymberlynn, Vanslee and Maya; and one great nephew, Kane.
The visitation will be held Friday, June 2 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Chetopa. The memorial service will be 2 p.m., Saturday, June 3 at the First Baptist Church of Chetopa.
Memorials are suggested to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. These may be made online at https://afsp.org/ or can be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.