George Francis O'Keefe

George Francis O’Keefe passed away peacefully at his home in West Linn, Oregon on December 20, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Chiron O’Keefe, and his sister, Diane Lopez. 

Born in Chicago, Illinois on October 11, 1953, his first significant career was drafting and building ships at Peterson Builders Incorporated, in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. He was a skilled draftsman designing ships at a time when every line had to be drawn by hand. He then taught himself and successfully incorporated CAD software, introducing his team to what would become the standard for draftsmen.

After shipbuilding, he became a successful and respected marketing manager at 3M, then branched out to sell educational software to colleges and other institutions. He then advanced to become a sales manager, continuing to evolve, with the final phase of his working life becoming a director of sales teams. He was liked and well-respected by everyone he worked with because... well... that's George, the kind of guy you wanted to know. The man stood out in a crowd and was brilliant, genial, well-read with a variety of interests, and astonishingly adept at everything he did.

Beyond his extensive careers, his greatest passion in life revolved around music. He began playing rhythm and lead guitar in his teens, joining a rock band at the tender age of fifteen. That band successfully played venues throughout the Chicago area for three years, with a large repertoire of then current hits. His love of music expanded and really came to fruition in 1996 when he met his wife, Chiron. As a couple, they spent nearly three decades mastering hundreds of songs. His rhythm sensibilities echoed the smooth sounds of Steve Cropper, a favorite guitarist, along with other musical heroes like Keith Richards and Jeff Beck. His ability to play lead guitar rivaled most modern musicians, with a unique ability to take every note and tell an exquisite story.  His collection of vintage guitars and posters of musicians he most admired were both extensive and unique.

In addition to his focus on music, he was involved in other creative and recreational endeavors. He was a talented artist who specialized in water-colors. He also further encouraged Chiron in her writing pursuits, acting as editor and publisher, with an attention to detail and valuable insights that Chiron very much appreciated, as his insights strengthened her published books and other writings. 

In 1996, he was drawn to Oregon’s beauty and decided that’s where he wanted to live, with the mountains and the rivers and the trees. One of his favorite activities in the last few years was walking in a local park along the river. He appreciated fine, vintage wine and enjoyed wine tasting and amassing a cellar of his favorites. 

George O’Keefe was an exemplary human being, a true gentleman, and will be missed beyond measure by everyone fortunate enough to know and to love him. 

George had great love and compassion for animals. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your local no-kill animal shelter.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George Francis O'Keefe, please visit our floral store.