Cornelius Patrick O'keefe

Cornelius Patrick O'Keefe, 77, died on January 29, 2011, surrounded by his family, following complications from a brain tumor. He had been a resident of Merritt Island for 48 years. Born in Jennings, MO, Pat was the fifth child in a family of eleven children.

He is survived by his sisters and brothers: Mary, Delores, John, Thomas, Kay, Ronnie, Rita and their surviving spouses along with numerous nieces and nephews. In 1953, Pat met Jackie and they married in 1955. They were blessed with six children: Michelle (Darrell Roberts), Kathleen Arnone, Mary Elizabeth (Joseph Gray), Michael (Paula), David (Jerri), and Scott (Michelle). Pat was especially fond of his seventeen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Pat and Jackie added a foster son, Everett Thompson, to this lively family in the 1970s.

Pat retired from the McDonnell Douglas Space and Defense Corporation in 1993 as Ombudsman at the facility at TICO airport. His 40 years of service encompassed support to a number of key programs including: F4, Projects Mercury and Gemini, Dragon, and Tomahawk.

Pat was active in the local community and at his church, Divine Mercy Catholic Church, supporting a wide variety of volunteer programs including: YMCA Indian Guides, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Marriage Encounter, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Pat was a man of strong faith, character, and high integrity.

He enjoyed woodworking, soapstone carving, and puttering with the landscaping in his yard. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at Florida Memorial Funeral Home, Rockledge. A short viewing will be conducted prior to the funeral mass from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. at Divine Mercy Catholic Church on Wednesday, February 2, 2011. The funeral mass will follow at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at Divine Mercy Catholic Church or to Vitas Hospice.