HORTENE — Mr. Dennis James O’Keefe, 61 of Hortense, passed away Sunday evening, June 28, 2026 at his residence following an extended illness.
Born October 22, 1964, in St. Louis, Missouri, O’Keefe was a son of the late John Shelby and Mildred Irene Swarringin O’Keefe. Growing up in Missouri, he worked many years as a self-employed truck driver and lived in Illinois, Arizona, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida before moving to Hortense in 2012.
O’Keefe was employed by the Brantley County Board of Education as a school bus driver and was also the former owner of Smiley’s Video Store in Hoboken.
In addition to his parents, O’Keefe was preceded in death by his brothers, Charles Werner and Joseph Werner; a sister, Beatrice Werner; and a stepbrother, Johnny Ray Reynolds.
Survivors include his wife, Margie Elizabeth Crawford of Hortense; two daughters, Lamarjorie Queen (husband William) of Valdosta and Tabitha Hartley (husband Kenneth) of Hoboken; two honorary daughters, Stella Young (husband Noah) of Alton, Ill., and Karlee Stewart (husband Tanner) of Nahunta; five grandchildren, Haiden Queen, James Queen, Emily Queen, Nathaniel Hartley, and Eli Hartley; seven honorary grandchildren; several honorary great grandchildren; two sisters, Bonnie Taylor and Teena Werner, both of Carrolton, Ill.; step siblings, Orville Reynolds (wife Becki) and James Reynolds (wife Gwen), both of Jerseyville, Ill., and Mokena Rynolds of North Carolina; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A memorial service was held Sunday afternoon, July 5, 2026 in the chapel of Hart Funeral Home.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.hartfh.com.
Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.
