Lawrence 'Poppie' O'Brien

Lawrence "Poppie" O'Brien, 76, a 14-year resident of Grass Valley, Calif., died Aug. 5, 2007, at his home.

Mr. O'Brien was born Aug. 4, 1931, to John Robert O'Brien and Dorothea Kent in Minneapolis, Minn. He married Audrey of Grass Valley. He was employed in the construction industry. He served in the U.S. Air Force. He enjoyed jazz, storytelling and his family.

He was preceded in death by a grandchild; stepson David Garcia; his brother John, brother and sister-in-law Earl and Mary O'Brien; and his sister Susan Ruyle.

Among his survivors are his wife of Grass Valley; sons Colin O'Brien of Gardena, Calif., Remy O'Brien of Yerington; daughter and son-in-law, Gina and Norman Lee of Dayton; daughters Michele O'Brien of Dayton, Melanie O'Brien Fetro and Erin O'Brien Dieker, both of Kansas; former spouse, Arlynne Chevins of Carson City; brother and sister-in-law Peter R. and Margaret O'Brien of Torrance, Calif., brothers-in-law Dan Ruyle of Mission Viejo and Don Elling of Carlsbad, Calif.; sister, Kathie O'Brien of Oceanside, Calif.; stepsons Chris Garcia of Bend, Ore., Dan Garcia and Martin Garcia of Palo Alto. Calif.; stepson and step-daughter-in-law Allan and Trish Garcia of Monterey; grandchildren Jennifer Thorpe and Kimberly Franco of Reno, Bevin Winslow of Virginia City, Trinity Winslow of Dayton, Rebecca Lee of Carson City, Sean O'Brien of Yerington, Jonathan and Kimberly Lee of Johnstown, Pa.; seven additional grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at a later date.

Neptune Society of Northern California is in charge of arrangements.