Raymond Mikel "Rj" O'Keefe Jr.

Raymond "RJ" Mikel O'Keefe, Jr.
November 16, 2020 – May 16, 2025
Raymond "RJ" Mikel O'Keefe, Jr., age 4, of Kansas City, Missouri, was called to heaven unexpectedly on Friday, May 16, 2025. Though his time here was brief, RJ's joyful spirit left a lasting impact on everyone lucky enough to meet him.
Born on November 16, 2020, in Kansas City, RJ was the beloved son of Raymond O'Keefe Sr. and Patience Hope Arndt. From the very beginning, he filled the lives around him with light-his smile was infectious, his laughter unforgettable.
RJ will forever be cherished by his parents, Raymond and Hope; his maternal grandfather, Dennis Arndt; maternal grandmother, Mendy Mizell; maternal aunt, Stevi Graham; maternal uncle, Hudson Carter; great-grandparents Debbie and Kevin Reed; and greatgrandmother Lynette Arndt. He was also deeply loved by a large extended family of greataunts and great-uncles: Charlie and Tina Mizell, Angie and Denver Williams, Yvonne and Jesse Miller, Sherry and Gary Stipancich.
On his father's side, RJ is lovingly remembered by his grandparents Joey Barrera Hall and Brett Hall, and Richard and Angie O'Keefe; great-grandparents Sylvia and Alberto Barrera, and Sandy and Doug Hall; his aunt and uncles Josh and Diana Egan, and Brendan Carrera; along with many great-aunts and uncles, including Adela and Martin Gonzales, Sonny Barrera, Brian and Nancy Hall, Michael and Robert O'Keefe, and Jaime Dutton.
RJ is now in the loving embrace of his baby sister Laena Reign O'Keefe; his cousins Matthew Stipancich, Timothy Young, and Christopher Young; his great-grandparents Jean and Jim Dutton; and his great-grandfather Dennis Arndt Sr., who no doubt welcomed him to heaven with open arms.
A celebration of RJ's life will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Assembly of God, 613 E. North Ave., Belton, Missouri 64012. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by the service at 12:00 p.m. He will be laid to rest at Belton Cemetery in Belton, Missouri.
In honor of RJ's beautiful life and gentle heart, memorial contributions may be made to Autism Speaks (http://www.autismspeaks.org).
While our hearts are broken, we are so grateful for the time we had with RJ. His light will stay with us always-he will be loved forever and missed beyond measure.
Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278
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God, We come to you today with hearts wide open and completely broken. We thank you for the precious time we had with RJ-a boy who didn't need many words to say everything. He was joy in motion. He danced. He sang. He loved horses, Avatar, all the Disney movies you can think of, and picking flowers. He brought light into every moment, and his smile could heal the hardest day. RJ didn't just live-he loved, fully and freely. He taught us to slow down. To laugh more. To feel deeper. His voice may have been quiet, but his spirit spoke loudly, clearly, beautifully. We don't understand why he had to leave so soon. There's no sense to be made, no reason good enough for this kind of loss. But we ask that You hold him now-in a place where there is only peace, and safety, and wonder. Let him be surrounded by everything he loved-music, movement, color, softness, and joy. And hold us, too. Because we are broken. We are aching. We are lost without him. But we are still RJ's. And he is still ours. Help us carry his memory not as a weight, but as a light. Let his joy live on through us-in every flower picked, every dance move, every quiet moment where love is louder than words. Amen.
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God sent an angel to the earth, The sweetest angel too, And for a little boy so full of life, He had so much to do. He knew he didn't have Forever on this earth to stay, So he filled each moment with pure joy, And got started right away. His eyes were bright and sparkly, He took in every turn. He danced, he laughed, he sang out loud- Because Ray came to learn. God sent him here to touch the Hearts He couldn't reach alone. Ray taught us strength, and how to love, In ways we've never known. His tiny body radiated A light sent from above, You felt it when you held his hand- Because Ray came to love. In four sweet years, he managed What many never will. He left behind a legacy That lingers with us still. He learned and taught, he played and smiled, He gave his all, each day. I know God wrapped him in His arms, When Ray was called away. And when I miss him Oh-So-Much, I can almost hear God say, "Please understand, his work was done- Ray did not come to stay."
Cullen Funeral Home, Inc.