In memory of Maureen O'Neill & Grant Echols

Maureen O'Neill

On April 23, 2006 I lost my sister, my best friend, my confidant, my saving grace. Maureen lost her battle with breast cancer that she fought for 7 years. She left behind 3 amazing children, Adam who is 20, who never left her side, Jacob 18, an amazing Electric guitarist, and my little Hannah, who is 10, she has the greatest sense of humour.Maureens husband Tom who loved and cherished Maureen was a Leutenant Col in the Marine corp. They were married 28 wonderful years. They managed to do lots of traveling and maureen was a big supporter of the military and the officer wives.Maureens strength and courage was unshakable even in the final hours, during the course of her battle she was an inspiration to other women with cancer. She was asked to speak to women all over the country on having a positive look on life. She had a strong support base of family and friends because of her passion for life and her remarkable sense of humour, this is where Hannah gets it.I remember after Maureen had her reconstruction, she just laughed and said she had Frankentits. I miss my friend, my sister. Without her there is one less angel on this planet.On a trip Maureen and Tom were on they watched a jeep flip in front of them with 6 teenagers in the jeep. Maurren instantly took control of the situation and bandaged and held the kids heads in her hand until the paramedics came. She was calm and cool, and saved their lives. 15 years later those 6 kids still remained close to Maureen. Briam is a light tech for Toby Kieth and when Maureen was hospitalized he flew to her bedside and never left it even to eat.She had alot of friends, some since she was 4, and she helped them through the hard times. For myself Maureen was there when my marriage failed. She drove two states for the birth of all my children. My children loved her and losing her was a devastation, even thou I lost my other sister to breast cancer and my brother 6 years ago, losing Maureen was the hardest thing I have gone through. Maureen is always in my thoughts and when I look at her beautiful daughter I see my amazing sister. She never had a bad thing about any one. She had an unstoppable amount of knowledge, she even had some of her writings published. She loved being outdoors and loved the Broncos, that is how she ended up in Colorado. Her passions included doing anything with her children, four wheeling, camping, surfing, jet sking or just hanging out. She is an amazing person and I am sure she is watching out for her family and keeping us safe. I truly miss my best friend... Charlene

Grant Echols



We are going to be short one person at the reunion, and that person is my younger brother Grant Echols. We were all caught of guard in October of 2003, when Grant passed away at the age of 42. A friend found him, in his house on his days off. They we’re going to go out to eat lunch together, but he never returned his friends’ phone calls from a few days earlier.

About six months earlier, Grant had just received his scuba diving certification, and had made a few dives in Mexico, and California. He was really starting to enjoy his newly found hobby of scuba diving. I love water and the ocean myself, and I also wanted to get certified. That way I could go with him, and enjoy the beauty of it all as well, and get to know him better. But suddenly before it all could materialize, the unexpected happened.

Grant was a very active person. He played football, and wrestled in High school. He liked motorcycles, atcs, four-wheeling, camping, etc…he was a real out doors men. He had his own painting business for a few years, which enabled him to get his own place. He also loved food, and worked a lot at a pizza & wings place, one of his friends owned. Grant also had a soft spot for animals. When it came time to eat, whether it was cats or dogs, his and the strays were always fed.

Hindsight is always 20/20, and now that he’s gone, I definitely can say that I wish I had spent more time with him. But, the good times we had together were good, and sometimes very funny. He will be missed, but the good time memories will last a lifetime.

Gregg Echols