Helen Ann Garrett O'Keefe

She was born on the 22nd of July 1929, to Robert Lee and Helen (Funderburk) Garrett, in Shreveport, Louisisna.

“Helen Ann,” as she was known to her childhood friends, attended Southfield School in Shreveport and Newcomb College of Tulane University in New Orleans. She graduated from Newcomb in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. She pledged Pi Beta Phi and was a member of the Dance Club. After moving to Houston in 1957, she met James Wortham O’Keefe. They were married in 1959 in Shreveport.

“Helen,” as her friends in Houston knew her, was involved in the Jr. League of Houston where she wrote and directed puppet shows as an outreach to underserved children. Helen was also an active member of Chapelwood United Methodist Church for many years, receiving the Reflection of Christ Award in recognition of her selfless dedication to Chapelwood. With Rev. Carey Sayers, she wrote and taught the Bethel Bible Study Series for many years. Helen also wrote a libretto for a children’s opera, “Friends and Dinosaurs.” After “retiring,” she left her beloved home in Sandalwood and moved to the Buckingham Senior Living Community where she was known for her smile and happy spirit.

Always the adventurer and life-long learner, Helen traveled all over the world: Thailand, Bali, Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey, Israel, England, Spain, France, Greece, China, Honduras, Panama, and Mexico. She took classes in Ancient History at Rice University, theology at The Perkins School of Theology at SMU, and British Literature at Clare College, Cambridge. Her first love was the beach. She was happiest with her toes in the sand and the wind in her hair. She loved making connections between the places she saw in person and those she had read about.

Helen is predeceased by her parents and husband; her brother-in-law, Dick P. Wall, Jr.; and her son-in- law Tim Ziegler. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret O’Keefe Ziegler; and grandchildren, Joy and James of Broomfield, Colorado, Zach of Denver, Colorado, and Chris and Courtney (Ziegler) Manning and their children, Ellie and Weston, also of Denver. Helen also leaves her beloved sister, Margaret Wall of New Orleans; and her nieces and nephews, Susan Wall Griffin of Baton Rouge, Dick P. Wall III of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Edward and Ainslie Wall of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Ann Wall and her son, Garrett of New Orleans.

A memorial service will be conducted on Friday, the 16th of June at three o'clock in the afternoon in the Chapel of Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 11140 Greenbay Street in Houston, where the Rev. Wick Stuckey is to officiate.

Immediately following the service all are invited to greet the family at a reception in nearby Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Helen’s memory be directed to Heifer International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202; the Audubon Society, 440 Wilchester Blvd., Houston, TX 77079; to Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 11140 Green Bay Street, Houston, TX 77024; or to the charity of one’s choice.

We invite you to take a few moment to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with her family by selecting the "Add A Memory" icon below.