Melody Lynn O'Keefe

Melody Lynn O’Keefe passed away at U of M Hospital on July 25, 2025 at the age of 74. Melody was born in Grand Rapids, MI on September 15, 1950. She was the only child of the late Herbert and Ruth (Tiffany) Morton. Melody graduated from Grand Rapids Union High School and attended Grand Valley College for two years. She traveled extensively with her parents, buying and selling antiques for her parents’ antiques store, Morton’s Antiques. The Mortons were known for their rare collection of brass and copper antiques. They had shops in Marshall and Saugatuck. In 1972, Melody met her beloved husband, Patrick “Coach” O’Keefe, at a football coaches’ clinic in Grand Rapids. When their eyes first met, they fell deeply in love. On July 29, 1972, the couple married. Melody and Pat raised four beautiful children: Dennis, Patrick Jr., Megan, and Collin. The couple would go on to spend 53 years together. After the kids grew up, Melody accepted a position as an administrative assistant in the Michigan Office of the Attorney General. For nearly twenty years, Melody worked tirelessly in the Consumer Protection Division, where she aggressively advocated for consumers. Melody was a voracious reader. She enjoyed watching her four children participate in sporting events and actively supported her husband in more than five decades of coaching football and baseball. Many in the Grand Ledge community would consider Melody to be an essential cog in the football and baseball programs, and she heavily contributed to the success of these programs in helping her husband and players win three state championships. She helped organize the baseball spring training program and led the team on forty-three annual trips to Florida. That was at a time when high school kids did not go to Florida for spring training. Melody was the team mother to 20 or more high school kids, many of whom had never spent time away from their parents. Melody mothered those kids like they were her own. Melody spent her final years enjoying time with her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Pat, her children: Dennis (Amy) O’Keefe, Patrick (Dr. Breanna O’Keefe), Megan (Ray) Magee, Dr. Collin (Dr. Rachel O’Keefe) and fifteen grandchildren: Olivia, Reagan, Keelan, Roanan, John, Liam, Aidan, Brynn, Nolan, Paddy III, Emerson, Melody, Ireland, Katie, and Kennedy. Visitation will be held at Holihan-Atkin-Barclay Funeral Home—located at 406 N. Bridge St. in Grand Ledge, MI 48837—on Wednesday, July 30th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. and Thursday, July 31st from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Michael Catholic Church in Grand Ledge on Friday, August 1st. A viewing will be held at St. Michael from 10:00-11:00 a.m. before the funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Fr. James Eisele, celebrant.You may watch the funeral mass for Melody at 11:00 am Friday on the St. Michael Church YouTube channel at this link:https://www.youtube.com/live/DY0Qr74WK6Y. Rite of Committal will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Grand Ledge. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Grand Ledge Bullpen Association, 304 Harpers Way, Lansing, Michigan 48917. Share your memories and condolences online at www.holihanatkin.com

Melody Lynn O'Keefe

September 15, 1950 - July 25, 2025