Robert O'Keefe

Waynesville, NC, Robert William O'Keefe, age 95, passed away on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at Autumn Care Nursing Home. Bob was born on November 7, 1916 in New Prague, Minnesota, son of the late William Henry and Cora Mickelson O'Keefe. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Florence Brindmore O'Keefe, who was an accomplished artist; his sister, Lorraine Kosta; and brother, Thorney O'Keefe. Bob was a graduate from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Business Administration in l938 and was a member of Zeta Phi fraternity. He served his country in the Navy as a Lieutenant (jg) aboard the USS Nelson in the Pacific during WWII and was honorably discharged in l946. He was employed by Pan Am Airways in Miami and San Francisco working in personnel and labor relations. He later worked for Lockheed in Sunnyvale, California. He was loved and respected by everyone who knew him and his gentle considerate ways. Bob and his wife retired to Waynesville, NC in l983. He was active in the Red Cross as Vice Chairman District One in Haywood County. He also served as chairman of the Book Sale for the Haywood County Public Library for several years and received the "Friend of the Year Award" in 1997. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Waynesville. Bob is survived by his daughter, Lyn Laverty, of Waynesville; his granddaughter Kristen Cape and her husband, Joey, of San Francisco, California; one grandson, James Laverty and wife, Carla, of Mill Valley, California; and three great-grandchildren, Violet Cape, Lexie Laverty and Lyle Laverty. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 in the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Dr. Robert M. Blackburn, Jr. officiating. Private family interment will be held at Green Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721 or the American Cancer Society, 90 Stiles Road, Canton, NC 28716.

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