O’Neill rose to become the country’s best‑known — and highest‑paid — female commercial illustrator, earning both a fortune and an international following through the creation of the Kewpie, the ubiquitous cherub who dominated American popular culture long before Mickey Mouse arrived on the scene. In her later years, O’Neill settled into the life of Branson, Missouri, where she became a familiar presence, donating artwork to the School of the Ozarks at Point Lookout, offering her time freely and staying deeply engaged with the region’s growing arts community.
