BELFAST — Darrell George O'Leary, 77, of Belfast, passed away April 24, 2015, after a long illness, at Waldo County General Hospital with his family and friends by his side. He left us at High Noon, which was also one of his favorite Westerns. He was born Feb. 22, 1938, in Belfast and grew-up free-spirited, and near the ocean on Bayview Street.

He met his true love, Donna, while both were working at McLellan's Store and they married in 1961. He graduated from Crosby High School in 1957 and joined the U.S. Air Force.

Darrell started bagging groceries at Cottle's Supermarket and worked his way up to store manager at Hannaford for a career spanning 41 years.

He was an active member of the Belfast Rotary Club, and a proud Paul Harris Fellow. He was a life-long communicant at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

An avid runner and bicyclist, Darrell rode his bike in the Trek Across Maine for 20 years.

He was kind-hearted and a generous people person who knew how to bring magic to the ordinary — and did that for his family and friends every day. He will be fondly remembered for his infinite sense of humor.

Darrell was a devoted and loving husband. As a dad, he was softhearted and to his four daughters he was the man of steel. His six grandkids were the apples of his eye. He was a Grampa beyond compare with a great sense of play; taking them swimming, renting bounce houses, constructing a virtual playground in the backyard.

Darrell was predeceased by his father, Ervin Bartlett O'Leary; his beloved mother and stepfather, Ruth (Drew) and Arnold Higgins; his sister, Hazel Marcia; his father- and mother-in­ law, Baxter and Doris Ward; his sister-in-law, Brenda Smith; his brothers-in-law, Laurance Libby and Baxter Toby Ward; and his lifelong friend, Hugh Holmes.

He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Donna (Kimball) O'Leary of Belfast; his daughters, Lisa O'Leary and her wife, Alison Moore, of South Portland, Lynne Annis and her husband, Matthew, of Rockport, Debra O'Leary of Belfast, and Jennifer Emerson and her husband, Justin, of Belfast; his brother, Basil O'Leary and his wife, Linda, of Derry, N.H.; his sister, Beryl Libby of Stockton Springs; his sisters-in-law, Dale and her husband, James Kocot, of Belfast, and Lynda Ward of Searsport; his brothers-in-law, Owen Smith, and Jeffrey Ward and his wife, Donna, all of Belfast; his grandchildren, Zachery and Evan Annis, Graham and Scarlett Peebles, and Caiden and Avery Emerson; a special niece, Kelli Grindle-Stone and her children; his treasured friends, Ralph Snyder, Harold Jones, and their wives, all of Belfast; as well as many other dear nieces and nephews.

A memorial mass will be held Friday May 1 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court St. in Belfast.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Waldo County YMCA, 157 Lincolnville Ave., Belfast, ME 04915 or Waldo County General Hospital, 118 Northport Ave., Belfast, ME 04915.

Arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home.