James Stanleigh O'Neill

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 in St. Genevieve Catholic Church for James Stanleigh O’Neill, 90, who passed away on January 25, 2025. Reverend Jeff Bayhi will be Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Reverends Brian Taylor, Conley Bertrand, and Matthew Higginbotham will con-celebrate. Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery. Born on September 12, 1934, James “Jim” O’Neill will be remembered by anyone who encountered him as “unique”. He was the eldest of four brothers growing up in Baton Rouge in a neighborhood surrounded by woods. Together with the neighborhood boys he and his brothers spent their free time in the trees. He developed into a talented gymnast and diver, and performed diving exhibitions at Baton Rouge pools, where he met his wife of 69 years, Elizabeth Ellis. Later, he and his friend Ron Gomez became LSU cheerleaders. After a couple of years as an LSU student, Jim joined the Air Force. After pilot training, his first assignment was flying refueling aircraft, just after the Korean War. Soon he and his young wife and four children were stationed to Fairchild AFB in Spokane, Washington. While piloting the then modern KC-135 tanker, he was part of the fleet providing mid-air refueling to B-52 bombers over the Artic during the early years of the Cold War. Jim then transitioned into pilot training and for years was a flight instructor, who was known and loved as a tough but great teacher by his pilot students. He once said, “with enough bananas, I could teach a monkey to fly.” The family received a pet monkey and a bunch of bananas soon thereafter. In 1967, Jim’s assignment was to train as a pilot in a fighter-type aircraft, the RF-4C, a photo reconnaissance aircraft in which he flew 96 combat missions in the Vietnam conflict. Thereafter, the family was stationed to Alconbury, RAFB, England, where Jim was a pilot as part of NATO. Jim was a great pilot and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by the United States Air Force, among many other awards. At retirement as a Major after 20 years in 1974, Jim and his family moved to Lafayette. He continued flying, generally for oilfield service companies, and at one time ran Charter Jet Services at the Lafayette Reginal Airport. Jim O’Neill could repair, build or rebuild anything. He took great pride in repairing, and at times rebuilding everything from toasters to car engines. There were very few broken or dysfunctional things he could not cure. Jim will be remembered by his love of the outdoors, where he spent many hours with his children and grandchildren on hunting and fishing adventures. He was at one time an avid duck and goose hunter and loved to chase redfish in the marsh around Grand Isle. Most importantly, Jim was always willing and able to help those in need. Whether rebuilding family cars, remodeling rooms, or building swing sets, he was always willing to give of his time and talents. Almost all those who knew Jim have a story about him that left a positive impression or memory. Jim O’Neill was unique and a special man and will be missed and greatly remembered. James, a resident of Lafayette, was the son of the late Stanleigh O'Neill and the former Edwyne Bohne of Baton Rouge. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Ellis O'Neill; children, Shawn (Sharon) O'Neill, Darren O'Neill, Erin (Greg) Ardoin, and Brennan (Kelly) O'Neill; grandchildren, Taylor Ardoin, Jacob Ardoin, Elizabeth Ardoin Glass, Anne Christian Ardoin, Mary Claire Ardoin, Ian O'Neill, Alyssa O'Neill, Nick O'Neill, and Joshua O'Neill; 3 great grandchildren, and one brother, Clyde "Bonnie" O'Neill. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Frank O'Neill and Patrick Pickens. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at St. Genevieve Catholic Church on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. A Rosary will be prayed at 11:00 AM. Pallbearers will be Gregory Ardoin, Darren O’Neill, Cole Glass, Taylor Ardoin, Jacob Ardoin, Ian O'Neill, and Nickolas Fisher. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carmelite Monastery, Wounded Warriors or to the Calcutta House - Hospice of Acadiana. Personal condolences may be sent to the O'Neill family at: www.delhommefuneralhome.com James Stanleigh O'Neill and his family were cared for and entrusted final arrangements to Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA. Copyright Delhomme Funeral Homes, Inc. January 2025.

James Stanleigh O'Neill

September 12, 1934 - January 25, 2025