Thomas Joseph O'Brien, Jr.

Thomas Joseph O'Brien was born on October 30th, 1956 in the Kansas City area. Birth weight was 8 pounds, 4 ounces; he was in an incubator for four hours following his birth.

Joseph’s biological father Thomas J. O’Brien, SR. was in guardianship until his death on June 27, 2020. Joe’s biological mother, Ann Kathryn Pemberton is also deceased.

Joey had lived in many places until he found his forever home at Higginsville Habilitation Center on July 20th, 1983, where he lived until his passing on June 19th 2026. Joey said the day before his passing that he was going home, and when asked “Joe where’s home?”, he pointed upward and then said his Prayer God is Good, God is Great, in the name of the Father, in the name of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

In Joey’s younger years he would tap on everything he touched for one breaking reason, just to see if it was glass so he could break it. Joey enjoyed coloring, one color to one page of course. Joey loved to tear\cut paper, which became difficult on November 12, 2015 when Joseph’s left hand was amputated above the wrist at Research Hospital in Kansas City. After, a paper cutter was presented to him, and he was back in business cutting paper like never before. "WANNA CUT PAPER PLEASE!!!"

Joey loved to work, "GO TO WORK PLEASE!!!" This was on repeat. Trying to get him to understand it was breaktime or Holiday seemed impossible. Joey looked forward to his paycheck to get a snack and a coke\diet coke. On December 23, 2025, Joey received a G-Tube, the day before his surgery, Staff made sure he had one last honey bun and a coke.

Joey loved dogs, he would smile but he would not pet them. He just wanted to keep his hand placed on their heads. Joey loved to go on walks with his dad, and eat Barbeque from Bates City. Joey enjoyed going on van rides to the lake where he would listen to staff talk about fishing, then he would laugh and repeat “fish in the water, boat in the water, water in your tummy.” Joey loved to hold your hand, and say, “Sit by me Please!” Joey was very routine. He liked to swim and go dancing, well let’s say in the pool and at dances he would just walk back and forth and smile. One of Joey’s last great outings was to a Royals game, take me out to the ball game, take out with the crowd, for its 1,2, 3 strikes you’re out!!!

Joey has touched many hearts as we often did not know what he was thinking, but he would eventually show or tell us, especially if it was something he did not want to do, he would say things like, “Don’t wanna go walk anymore” “don’t kick the bucket no more.” Joey was one of the most easy-going gentlemen, he did not want for much, just to be next to staff. He would give a smirk or half smile when others were having issues.

The last year of his life was hard, he tried hard to find himself, staff tried hard to keep all the things Joey loved close. He was lost and it was sad. Losing his dad, not having work, getting a G-tube, losing his teeth, it was too much. Joey would often talk about his childhood also, telling himself things his father would say, "Joe’s daddy’s Good Boy, Joe’s ok."

Crestview will not be the same, he has touched so many lives. God knew what he was doing, Joey was put in our lives for a reason, you may or may not understand it now, but one day you will.

“You’re my best friend in the whole wide world”, "Joe’s your friend", "Wanna go work Please", "put a whole in that wall", these are all famous Joey quotes but the best of all is:

"I AM DOING ALRIGHT; I AM DOING OK!"