David “Dave” Francis O’Keefe, passed away peacefully at South Shore Hospital surrounded by his beloved wife, Carol (Bratt) O’Keefe and his four children, Chris, Kelly, Scott and Jill, after a long battle with health issues. Born August 27th 1941 to the late Harold and Alma (Higgins) O’Keefe, he grew up in Canton and Stoughton. A 1959 graduate of Canton High School, he attended all of his high school reunions and attended many of the Canton/Stoughton Thanksgiving day football games.
He enlisted in the Navy with his friend Richard “Digger” Daniels and was stationed on Lake Michigan aboard the USS Accokeek, serving from 1959-1962. One of his fondest naval adventures was his time spent in Labrador, Canada. He was married to Carol for 54 years and they settled in Rockland where they raised their four children. There, Dave was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 165 and was a coach for numerous Rockland youth hockey and baseball teams. Dave was a proud union member of the RWDSU Local 513, working as a truck driver salesman for 35 years at the Charles C Copland Co. Pepsi franchise in Milton, MA. After he retired, he continued to drive trucks working for John Hoadley & Sons Plumbing Company and he enjoyed pointing out all of the places he delivered pipe.
Traveling was important and there were countless summer cross-country road trips and camping trips. He was an avid sports fan but especially loved football and the New England Patriots. In his later years, he loved attending his grandchildren’s games and school events. Dave and Carol enjoyed going to the $5 Tuesday movies at Patriot Cinemas in Hanover and he saved every ticket stub. They also enjoyed their annual (and sometimes bi-annual!) Boston to Bermuda cruises where they enjoyed being treated like royalty by the cruise staff members.
He is survived by his wife Carol (Bratt) O’Keefe of Marshfield, MA, his son Chris and wife Denise and their children Paige and Colin of Rockland, MA; his daughter Kelly and her husband Scott “Gags” Gagnon and their children Kasey and Spencer of Plymouth, MA; his son Scott and his wife Chandra and their children Aidan, Abigail and Declan of Kingston, MA; his daughter Jill and her husband David McCarthy and their children Henry, Darby, and Milly of Kingston, MA, his sister Maureen and her husband John Flaherty of Bedford, NH, his aunt Joan (Higgins) Krupa of AZ and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother and best friend Robert O’Keefe.
A memorial mass and a celebration of Dave’s life will be held on a future date when we can all toast him with a Bud Light.