Ferrell Thomas O'Rourke

Ferrell Thomas O’Rourke, passed away peacefully on Ascension Sunday, Memorial Day weekend, May 24th, 2020. He was 90. He was born just outside of King City, in Ford City, Missouri on New Year’s Day in 1930. Growing up on a farm, he was only 8 when his parents moved the family to Albuquerque, New Mexico. His first job was a paper route at only 9 years of age using his bicycle. He later drove a model A. He graduated from Saint Mary’s High School in1948, from UNM with a Bachelor of Arts in 1960 and from the University of Albuquerque with a Master of Arts in Education in 1968. The majority of his teaching career was spent in Albuquerque Public Schools where he retired from in 1995. He worked at the same time as a groundskeeper at the Bernalillo County detention center. He completed Army basic training at camp Roberts in California in 1951 where following he was honorably discharged due to a vision impairment. He was married in 1963 at the Newman center.

He was a past member of Knights of Columbus, Pope Pius XII Club(president), Right to Life including Project Defending Life and the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity in Kansas City, Missouri in 1969-1971.

His favorite prayer was the memorare which he prayed as he placed a scapular on the dying. His favorite song was Amazing Grace.
He and his wife introduced Marriage Enrichment at Annunciation catholic church where he was a past parishioner and member of the council. He arranged the coffee and donuts socials and showed a movie the Cross and the Switchblade.

His favorite holiday was St. Patrick's Day when he attended the Brother Matthias Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner. He was proud of his Irish heritage. He attended the parade in New YorkCity several times.

He travelled to many places around the United States and the world including Belize, Cameroon, Guatemala, Mexico, Ireland, Italy and the Holy Land where he and his wife renewed their marriage vows.

He enjoyed beekeeping especially eating the honey, camping, car races especially Indy, casino especially playing blackjack, checkers, chocolate dipped ice cream cone, country music and dancing especially in turkey Texas, Dunkin Donuts, exercising especially running and walking and weightlifting, farming, fishing especially trout, gardening especially tomatoes, handyman with the house and cars, hiking especially up the La Luz trail and to Lake Catherine, horse races especially live, hunting especially deer, investing, JohnWayne movies with popcorn, picnics especially with family and in mountains, pizza barn in Edgewood, reading large print, speaking Spanish, sports especially baseball and Notre Dame football, travelling, trucks and wood cutting. His past family home located on 13th street was featured in an episode of Breaking Bad.

He is survived by his loving wife Pattie of 57 years, son Michael (Joanne) of Troy, Michigan, son John (Enedina) of El Paso, Texas, daughter Theresa of Albuquerque who cared for him up until his last breath, four grandsons, Aidan, Patrick, Brendan and Colin, three granddaughters, Megan, Emily and Melissa, a sister Patricia Brown(Art) and their son, Ferrell's godson, Mark, of Valencia, California. Ferrell was preceded in death by his parents James and Beatrice O'Rourke, brothers Vincent O'Rourke(WWII Pacific Area 200th Coast Artillery)(Bataan Death March)(POW and death Cabanatuan, Phillippines) and James Vernon O'Rourke(SM3 US Navy WWII) and sisters Marguerite Dillon, Maureen Lonz, and RoseMarie Streich. He has countless family and friends including the neighbors.

The Rosary will be held 6 – 7 PM on Monday, June 8th at French Mortuary at 10500 Lomas, with visitation one hour before at 5 – 6 PM. A mass will be celebrated at 9:15 AM on Tuesday, June 9th at Sangre de Cristo Catholic Church at 8901 Candelaria followed by a burial service including Flag and Taps at 11 AM at Gate of Heaven cemetery at 7999 Wyoming. Due to the COVID 19 situation our family fully understands if you are unable to attend. Your thoughts and prayers are more than sufficient. Please join our online guestbook for Ferrell and, if you can’t attend, you can participate through a live-stream of the Rosary which will be provided below