Dorothy Keefe, always with a smile for all. (Photos #1, #3, #4, #5 courtesy Renae Mulholland)
She was true to her school, her town, and her family.
Always.
Dorothy Keefe, who passed away this weekend, was as big a Coupeville supporter as any you would find, and our paths crossed often as I wrote about sports.
Regardless of the situation, through good times and tough times, the matriarch of one of our most-successful families always had a smile on her face.
Always.
Whether she was watching her children recapture past glory — son Randy wowing the crowd by doing the splits at the 101st CHS basketball anniversary event — or glowing as her grandchildren continued to add to the family legend, Dorothy was a delight.
Keeping a loving eye on both her own offspring, such as son Randy, and her sons from other mothers like Bill Jarrell. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Into her 80’s, she still enjoyed getting together for coffee with classmates such as Roger Sherman, Albert Bowers, and George Libbey, and planned nearly all of her CHS Class of ’53 reunions.
Her smiling face, always there in the stands, has been a pleasant constant in the years since I started Coupeville Sports, and her impact will not be forgotten.
Dorothy Keefe was a Wolf, one of the best of them.
Always.
A pandemic couldn’t stop Dorothy from being in the stands to cheer on granddaughter Abby Mulholland.
From the family:
Dorothy Clark Keefe passed away November 20, 2021, at the age of 87.
She was born in Coupeville, Washington on October 1, 1934, to her parents, Tommy and Blanche Clark.
She graduated from Coupeville High School in 1953.
After graduation, she worked for West Coast Telephone Company as a telephone operator in Oak Harbor, Mount Vernon, and Everett.
Dorothy married Tommy Keefe on June 12, 1955, at the Coupeville Rec Hall, and two years later they built their forever home in Coupeville.
In the 60’s she was a telephone operator and worked in the business office at South Whidbey Telephone.
It was in the mid 60’s when she decided to follow her calling and become a nurse. She attended Skagit Valley College and graduated with an LPN nursing license.
Dorothy began her career at United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley, then worked at Whidbey General Hospital from its beginning in 1970, until her retirement in 1992.
Most of those years were spent working in the delivery room and nursery with the newborns.
During retirement, she volunteered to work on the Coupeville Parks and Rec Commission, where she helped make improvements to the Rec Hall, obtained equipment for the Coupeville Town Park playground, and painted several town snowmen for Christmas.
Dorothy was the foundation of her family.
As a young adult, and throughout her life, she was the glue to bring her family and friends together for so many parties in her home, extending invites to the many relatives near and far.
She will be remembered for her love of babies, her help and love for family and friends, and her community.
She LOVED Coupeville.
Dorothy is survived by her four children: Rick O’Keefe of Skagit County, Randy O’Keefe of Freeland, Ryan O’Keefe of Coupeville, and Renae Mulholland (Robert “Moose” ) of Coupeville.
Reconnecting with the past with daughter Renae and son Ryan during renovations at Coupeville High School.
Also six grandchildren: Kramer (Morgan), Austin, Kendra (Nick), Courtney (Beni), Gavin (Lucy), and Abby.
Four great-grandchildren: Oliver, Annorah, Dallan, and Ryley; one brother, Pat Clark (Jan) of Langley; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Tom Keefe; her brother, Jim Clark; and her sister, Kathleen “Katy” Clark Faris.
Visitation will be held at Wallin-Stucky Funeral Home in Oak Harbor Monday, Nov. 29, from 5-7 PM.
A graveside service will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 11 AM.
Immediately following the graveside, a reception will be held at the Coupeville Rec Hall.
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