DATE: Sunday, August 3, 1997                TAG: 9708030009

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   39 lines

RAYMOND V. O'KEEFE

Raymond Vincent O'Keefe, 87, of the 1900 block of E. Ocean View Ave., died Aug. 1, 1997, in a Norfolk nursing facility.

Mr. O'Keefe was a native and lifelong resident of Norfolk and was the son of the late John J. and Carolyn Buchanan O'Keefe. He owned the O'Keefe Sign Co., a family business since 1890 and owned and operated the O'Keefe Motel in Ocean View until his retirement in 1980. He was an active member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Norfolk and painted many of their murals and signs.

Mr. O'Keefe was a member of Knights of Columbus, 3568, Ocean View; Ryan Club of Norfolk; Nocturnal Adoration Society; active with Meals on Wheels; and the Holy Family Retreat House as a parish leader; He was a graduate of Maury High School.

Survivors include his loving wife of 53 years, Marie Battaglia O'Keefe of Norfolk; a daughter, Maria O. Rowse and her husband Mark of Wasilla, Alaska; three sons, G.J. Perry O'Keefe and Raymond O'Keefe and his wife Rita of Augusta, Ga., Paul O'Keefe and his wife Sandra of Norfolk; and nine grandchildren; his sister-in-law, Carolyn O'Keefe, widow of Dr. J.J. O'Keefe, and Mrs. O'Keefe's brothers, Gaspare Battaglia III and his wife, Gayle, of Norfolk, Sylvester C. Battaglia of Winter Park, Fla., and Phil Battaglia and his wife Marie of Longwood, Fla., and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial service will be conducted at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Monday, Aug. 4, 1997, at 7:30 p.m. by the Rev. Lou Ruoff and Monsignor Vincent Gatto. Burial will be at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

The Rosary will be said by the Catholic Nocturnal Adoration Society, today at 7 p.m. in H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk.

Mr. O'Keefe will be taken to the church, Monday evening, for a visitation from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Family and friends are encouraged to meet at the church, Tuesday at 10 a.m. for the procession to the cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Holy Trinity Restoration Fund. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk, will be handling the arrangements. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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