Obituary for Marjorie Jane O'Keefe (O'Keefe)
Marjorie Jane O’Keefe, of Kennebunk, peacefully passed away at Huntington Common on
Sunday evening September 29, 2019. She was born October 1, 1919 in Boston, Mass. and was the daughter of Eva (Gardner) O’Keefe and Frank W. O’Keefe.
During her childhood and teen years, Marjorie and her siblings spent their summer vacations in a little village in Nova Scotia where the O’Keefe family owned a cottage overlooking the ocean and beaches that were seldom used. Many of Marjorie’s favorite childhood memories centered around the adventures of the O’Keefe children in their explorations and their discoveries of nature that were revealed in what was then, nearly a pristine setting.
When in her early twenties, Marjorie was employed by the Polaroid Corporation in Boston where during the years of the Second World War, she was assigned to support the company’s research and development department in the design and manufacture of both, plane bomb sights and the machine gun sights used by manned turrets on US war planes.
After the war she was employed overseas by the US Civil Service as a teacher, where she taught the dependent children of US military personnel who were stationed abroad. Her favorite teaching subjects were Geography and Literary English, and when the situation called for it, also lessons on good manners and courtesy. Marjorie also had an inclination toward art and an interest in sketch drawing.
Most of the time she was stationed in England, but she also spent time teaching in both France and Spain. During her free time, she traveled extensively throughout Europe where she made many long-term friendships.
She was very much attached to Queen Elizabeth and the happenings and events of England’s Royal Family, and on several occasions, took her students to observe and take in the grandeur of Royal events.
When she returned annually to Boston for vacations back home, she always traveled by passenger ship and at one time made the trip on the Queen Mary.
After retiring, Marjorie devoted most of her retirement years to the oversight, care and education of her nephew Alan Tucker. After Alan’s mother and father passed away, Marjorie resided with him in his family home at 128 Sea Road in Kennebunk. In good weather they enjoyed their daily mile walks, numerous trips to the beach and seasonal rides to the mountains. In later years, after Marjorie was no longer driving, these trips were provided by friends and members of the Kennebunk Baptist Church where Marjorie and Alan attended services for over 10 years.
Marjorie was predeceased by her parents, her sister Geraldine Tucker, and her brothers, Wilson and Frank. She is survived by her nieces, Sharon Bozze of Billerica, MA, and Ann deBever of San Diego, CA. She is survived also by her nephews, Frank O’Keefe of Everett, MA, Tom O’Keefe of Warren, VT, and Alan Tucker of Biddeford, ME.
The family will hold a Graveside Service at Evergreen Cemetery, Kennebunk on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 11:15 AM with Rev. James King officiating. Following the service there will be a luncheon provide for relatives and friends downstairs in the vestry of the Kennebunk Baptist Church which is located at 77 Main Street.
If anyone desires to make a memorial donation in Marjorie’s memory it may be made to the Kennebunk Baptist Church (Historical Preservation Fund), PO Box 396, Kennebunk, ME 04043.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Marjorie‘s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.
Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043.
Sunday evening September 29, 2019. She was born October 1, 1919 in Boston, Mass. and was the daughter of Eva (Gardner) O’Keefe and Frank W. O’Keefe.
During her childhood and teen years, Marjorie and her siblings spent their summer vacations in a little village in Nova Scotia where the O’Keefe family owned a cottage overlooking the ocean and beaches that were seldom used. Many of Marjorie’s favorite childhood memories centered around the adventures of the O’Keefe children in their explorations and their discoveries of nature that were revealed in what was then, nearly a pristine setting.
When in her early twenties, Marjorie was employed by the Polaroid Corporation in Boston where during the years of the Second World War, she was assigned to support the company’s research and development department in the design and manufacture of both, plane bomb sights and the machine gun sights used by manned turrets on US war planes.
After the war she was employed overseas by the US Civil Service as a teacher, where she taught the dependent children of US military personnel who were stationed abroad. Her favorite teaching subjects were Geography and Literary English, and when the situation called for it, also lessons on good manners and courtesy. Marjorie also had an inclination toward art and an interest in sketch drawing.
Most of the time she was stationed in England, but she also spent time teaching in both France and Spain. During her free time, she traveled extensively throughout Europe where she made many long-term friendships.
She was very much attached to Queen Elizabeth and the happenings and events of England’s Royal Family, and on several occasions, took her students to observe and take in the grandeur of Royal events.
When she returned annually to Boston for vacations back home, she always traveled by passenger ship and at one time made the trip on the Queen Mary.
After retiring, Marjorie devoted most of her retirement years to the oversight, care and education of her nephew Alan Tucker. After Alan’s mother and father passed away, Marjorie resided with him in his family home at 128 Sea Road in Kennebunk. In good weather they enjoyed their daily mile walks, numerous trips to the beach and seasonal rides to the mountains. In later years, after Marjorie was no longer driving, these trips were provided by friends and members of the Kennebunk Baptist Church where Marjorie and Alan attended services for over 10 years.
Marjorie was predeceased by her parents, her sister Geraldine Tucker, and her brothers, Wilson and Frank. She is survived by her nieces, Sharon Bozze of Billerica, MA, and Ann deBever of San Diego, CA. She is survived also by her nephews, Frank O’Keefe of Everett, MA, Tom O’Keefe of Warren, VT, and Alan Tucker of Biddeford, ME.
The family will hold a Graveside Service at Evergreen Cemetery, Kennebunk on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 11:15 AM with Rev. James King officiating. Following the service there will be a luncheon provide for relatives and friends downstairs in the vestry of the Kennebunk Baptist Church which is located at 77 Main Street.
If anyone desires to make a memorial donation in Marjorie’s memory it may be made to the Kennebunk Baptist Church (Historical Preservation Fund), PO Box 396, Kennebunk, ME 04043.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Marjorie‘s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.
Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043.