Cecil Ray O'Keefe

Cecil Ray O'Keefe, 74, of Island Pond died suddenly July 8,2010 in Newport. He was born December 6, 1935 in Island Pond a son of Leon and Annie (Langmaid) O'Keefe. He married Diane Sylvester who predeceased him. Mr. O'Keefe was a lineman for the CNN Railroad and St. Lawrence Atlantic Railroad for many years. He enjoyed fishing and coaching basketball, baseball, and softball. He kept very active and he would pick up metal all over the Northeast Kingdom. He is survived by his son William Robert O'Keefe and his wife Ma. Stefanella of Island Pond, and by three grandchildren: Timothy Robert O'Keefe, Aleasha Lynn O'Keefe, and Clairiane Stefanelle, and by a sister-in-law Bertha O'Keefe of Island Pond and by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by the following brothers and sisters: Vera Groupe, Doris Lafoe, Lawrence O'Keefe, Ruby Dowland, Leariche Jackson, Charolotte Hall, and David O'Keefe. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday July 14, 2010 at St. James Catholic Church in Island Pond with the Rev. Frank O'Connor celebrating a mass of Christian burial. Friends may call from 9:00A.M. until 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday July 14, 2010 at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, 1199 Railroad Street, Island Pond. Interment will follow in Lakeside Cemetery, Island Pond. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 55 Day Lane, Williston, Vt 05495. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, locally family owned and operated.