James Thomas O'Keefe

James Thomas O’Keefe Jr. 94, passed away on March 4, 2026 at The Life Care Center of Palm Bay Florida. He was husband to Marilyn E. O’Keefe who preceded him in death in September 2024. They shared 72 years together.

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was the son of James T O’Keefe Sr and Anna O’Keefe nee Tobin. He attended Trenton Catholic HS for boys and joined the United States Navy in 1947 right out of High School. Early in his Navy career he served on the USS Midway and USS Kula Gulf. Jim later had duty stations in Niagara Falls NY and Lakehurst Naval Air Station in NJ where he was an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate and served in the final years of the Navy’s Lighter than Air program as a crewmember on Navy blimps.

In 1966 the family got orders to Adak Naval Air Station in the Aleutian Islands. After a short tour of duty on Adak Jim was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer and was assigned to the USS America in Norfolk VA where he was the Aviation Fuels Officer and did two tours of duty in the Tonkin Gulf during the Viet Nam war. Jim’s next duty station was on the pre-commissioning crew of the Nuclear Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz.

During his Navy career Jim received many commendations including Navy Commendation Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation medal; Navy Occupation Medal; 2 Good Conduct Medals; National Defense Service Medal w/ Bronze Star; Viet Nam Service medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal and Republic of Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry.

In 1971 the family moved back to NJ where Jim eventually retired from the Navy. After the Navy Jim worked for the State of NJ Dept of Banking & Insurance and in 1982 Jim and Marilyn moved south to sunny Barefoot Bay Florida where Jim was an active member and Commander of the local American Legion post. Jim was an avid golfer and stamp collector. Jim and Marilyn enjoyed traveling to Europe and taking cruises.

He is survived by his children Tom, Pat, Karen, Sharon and their spouses, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

He will be interred alongside his wife at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery at a later date in a private ceremony.

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the St. Jude’s Research Hospital. (www.stjude.org)