Gabriele Amalie O'Keefe

Gabriele Amalie O'Keefe, lovingly known as Elli to her family and friends, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2025, in Marble Falls, Texas. Born on February 14, 1933, in the picturesque Bavarian town of Oberau, Garmisch, Germany, Elli's life was a story of courage, devotion, and faith.

Elli was born and raised in Oberau during the turbulent years of World War II. After completing both high school and trade school, she trained as a governess, a role that reflected her natural gift for guiding and nurturing others. While working as a governess for an American family in Germany, she met an American soldier of German descent from Missouri. Their bond grew quickly, and on December 24, 1955, the two were married. Soon after, Elli embarked on one of the greatest adventures of her life. On February 11, 1956, she traveled by ship to New York with her new husband, following his military orders to the United States. They began their journey stationed in Virginia and several other states before returning to Germany for a time. In 1964, they settled in El Paso, Texas, where her husband eventually retired from the military and Elli devoted herself to raising their four children.

Her calling as a homemaker and mother was matched only by her desire to serve others. Elli poured her energy into her family while also working as a childcare teacher, and later brought her spark to the community as a Hoover vacuum sales specialist, where her kindness was just as memorable as her salesmanship.

Faith was the anchor of Elli's life. While living in El Paso, she devoted countless hours to Abundant Church, welcoming parishioners with a radiant smile and organizing the church clothes closet with care that made strangers feel like family. After her retirement, she moved to Kingsland, Texas, to be close to her daughter Pamela. There, Elli continued her service at Buchanan West Baptist Church, where she tended to both the clothes closet and the church library, and became a faithful participant in weekly Bible studies. She lived her faith daily, embodying Mother Teresa's reminder: "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." She was known as the "Prayer Warrior", always praying for everyone. Elli took joy in sending daily inspirational messages to many friends, family, and church family, a simple gesture that touched lives more deeply than she ever knew.

Elli's spirit shone just as brightly in her quiet moments. She delighted in feeding and watching the deer and birds in her backyard, filling her home with the peace of God's creation. She enjoyed word search puzzles, deep thoughts in prayer lists, and the comfort of gathering for church with her family. Even in her later years, Elli's curiosity and compassion never dimmed; she found happiness in life's simplest rhythms and made them sacred through her gratitude.

Those who knew Elli describe her as a loving, faith-filled, and passionate woman who never did anything halfway. She was preceded in death by her parents, Amalie and Emeran Blome; her brother, Emeran Blome; her sister, Helga Reintzer; and her grandson, Brian Ross. She leaves behind a legacy of love carried on by her siblings, Helmut Blome, Franz Blome, and Hannelore Weber; her children, Pamela Clark, Emeran Boehn and wife Toni, Diana G. Ross, and Belinda Frias and husband Larry; her nine grandchildren, Casey, Amanda, Alex, Brittany, Wade, Michael, Amalie, Erika, and Elena; and her ten great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Alekzander, Andie, Adalynn, Liam, Noelle, Lincoln, Claire, Khaleesi, and Anthony Jr.

Elli's life was a beautiful mosaic of service, devotion, and joy. She leaves behind not just memories, but a living example of what it means to walk in faith and extend love to others in both grand gestures and small daily acts. While her absence will be deeply felt, her presence endures in every smile, every kindness, and every prayer offered in her memory.