Dennis E. O'Keefe

Dennis Edward O'Keefe, 83, entered the presence of his Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

Born January 23, 1942, in Detroit, MI, he called Oklahoma City home for much of his adult life.

His childhood was spent with six brothers and sisters in Detroit, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Houston where he graduated from Spring Branch High School in 1960. He went on to attend Texas A&M (Whoop!) before beginning his long running retail career with the J.L. Hudson division of Dayton-Hudson Corporation in Detroit. Dennis worked his way through the management trainee program, becoming a buyer and eventual merchandise manager. There, he met the love of his life, Susan who also worked at Hudson's at the time. They were married in the fall of 1968 and began their 56-year journey together.

In 1973, Dennis joined John A. Brown department stores in Oklahoma City and was named vice president and general merchandise manager. From there, he went on to serve as executive vice president and general merchandising manager of Godchaux's, a retail specialty store in New Orleans from 1979 to the summer of 1984 before returning to Oklahoma City for good as the President and chief executive of Rothschild's clothing stores. Following the closure of Rothschild's, he and Sue took ownership of Kabet's specialty shop from 1993 to 2003 in Penn Square Mall. Dennis' tenure at Penn Square Mall across three retail companies lasted 26 years. His desire to serve his customer base with humility and kindness was always paramount to anything else in his career.

Dennis' service to the Oklahoma City greater community included three decades of volunteerism and support for the Science Museum of Oklahoma, known in the 1970's as the "Omniplex" and then eventually multiple outlets through his tenure as a trustee for the Oklahoma City Retailer's Foundation. His involvement with the Christian Business Men's Committee (CBMC Oklahoma) in the 1990's and 2000's was some of his best service years and richest friendships. He served as a greeter at Life.Church Edmond for over 20 years as well.

He is survived by his wife Sue; his daughter Kerry Shepard and her husband Thad of Memphis; and his daughter Kristy Harris of Midwest City. He is also survived by his four grandchildren: Ben Harris (Emporia, KS), Savannah Shepard, (Fayetteville, AR) Kori Harris (Midwest City) and Caroline Shepard (Memphis). Additionally, he is survived by his sisters Nancy O'Keefe, Judy Drexel, Patti Van Zandt (Scott) and sister-in-law Wendy Larsen (Ric) and brothers Terry O'Keefe, Robert O'Keefe (Sarah) and brother-in-law Jim Danforth (Linda), and 10 nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Marguerite and Eugene Thomas O'Keefe, son Kevin Charles Danforth O'Keefe, brother Douglas O'Keefe and two nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Crossings Community Church, 14600 N Portland Ave in Oklahoma City Friday, August 22 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions may be made in Dennis' memory to the Dennis O'Keefe Memorial Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, occf.org, 1000 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.