Obituary of J. B. O'Keefe

The death of Mr. J. B. (Bev) O'Keefe, of Florenceville, NB, husband of Mary T. (Quigley) O'Keefe, occurred on Friday, November 15, 2002 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Born in Saint John, he was the son of the late Roy and Ann (Geldart) O'Keefe. Bev attended St. Vincent's Boy's School and worked in the family grocery business from 1950-1953, before going on to work with Irving Oil Ltd. in 1953, leaving the company as its Senior Executive Sales and Operations Manager in 1963, to pursue further employment with McCain Foods Ltd. Bev left the McCain Group of Companies as President and Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Equipment Ltd. in 1977, to become the President and Chief Executive Officer of Juniper Lumber Co. Ltd., until 2000. He was a member of St. Leo's Parish in Florenceville, NB and was a 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus. Bev participated in many volunteer organizations, including the Kidney Foundation, served as a Trustee on the Board of Home and School and held many directorships, including the Maritime Lumber Bureau, the New Brunswick Forest Products Association and the Advisory Board to the Dean of Forestry of the University of New Brunswick. Bev will be sadly missed and remembered by his loving wife, Mary; two daughters, Susan of Moncton; Dianne Lord (Kevin) of Florenceville, NB; and one son, David (Karen) of Florenceville; five grandchildren, Sarah, Lori, Briann, Meghan and Maddie; and his extended family, Bill Vance, Alex and Julie of Moncton. He is survived by three sisters, Valerie Moran, Evelyn Ann Watters (Paul) and Patsie O'Keefe-Tracy (Terry) and one brother, Tom (Lynn) and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one brother, Roy (Tarzie) O'Keefe. Resting at Brenan's Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (506-634-7424), with visiting on Sunday, 7-9 p.m. and Monday, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Pius X Church, Somerset Street, Saint John, on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 12:00 noon. Interment in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Remembrances to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Saint John Regional Hospital (Palliative Care Unit), the Canadian Cancer Society or the charity of the donors choice would be appreciated by the family. A Vigil Service will be held at the Funeral Home on Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. www.brenansfh.com