Eugene "Gene" O'Mara

Eugene Thomas "Gene" O’Mara, 74, of Casa Grande died in Scottsdale on Oct. 21, 2014.

Mr. O’Mara was born in Butte, Montana, on March 23, 1940, to Patrick and Julia O’Mara. He moved to the San Francisco Bay Area at age 3 with his family and graduated from Castlemont High School in Oakland, California, in 1958. He met his wife of 55 years, Marlene Eakin, and they married in 1959. He worked for Coca-Cola Company in San Leandro, California, until he transferred to Phoenix in 1969 for the opening of the Phoenix Coca-Cola canning plant. In 1973, he and his family moved to Casa Grande, where he became president and general manager of the struggling Casa Grande Enterprises, which canned Pepsi-Cola and other products. The plant became one of the nation’s top-producing Pepsi canners, and he continued there until his retirement.

He was an active member of the community, serving as president of the Casa Grande Rotary Club, vice president of the Greater Casa Grande Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce and with economic development efforts. He was known for his kind heart and was very active with the Red Cross and other local charities. He enjoyed traveling to Ireland, flying, prospecting and fishing, but his true passion was gathering with his family, often sharing a meat pie with them and spending time with all his "grandbabies."

He is survived by his wife; two sons, Evan of Casa Grande and Eric of Phoenix; two daughters, Lisa of Paradise Valley and Jillian Messina of Casa Grande; two brothers, Patrick and Kevin of California; two sisters, Sharon and Margaret of California; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Daniel and Michael.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, with rosary recited at 9:30. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel is in charge of arrangements.