O'Keefe, Margaret H. (Hansbarger) was a resident of Lexington, Massachusetts for over 50 years. She was the wife of the late Bernard W. O'Keefe. Daughter of Charles and Carrie Hansbarger, she was a native of Loudoun County, Virginia where she taught school after graduation from James Madison College. She continued her studies at the University of Virginia. In 1943, Mrs. O'Keefe joined the Red Cross and was assigned to the South West Pacific. Her tour of duty included managing air strip canteens in New Guinea and being responsible for the construction and staffing of a recreation building for combat fatigued airmen. She received a special citation from the 5th Air Force and National Red Cross for her work. When she returned to the states she joined the Red Cross recreation staff for military hospitals, serving at Fort Dix and Murphy General Hospital as the Director. In 1950 she joined the Boston hospital chapter as Director of Junior Red Cross in the private public and parochial schools until retiring in 1968. After 50 years one of her greatest pleasures was hearing from men and women she had worked with as Junior Red Cross members. Later, Mrs. O'Keefe was affiliated with a local real estate company. After retirement she was involved with several volunteer organizations in Lexington. She was a long time member of the Lexington Field and Garden Club and served as its historian and co-archivist. Mrs. O'Keefe was also a member of the Lexington chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.



She leaves nieces and nephews in the Virginia, Washington DC and Massachusetts areas. A graveside service was held Saturday, October 3rd at Westview Cemetery in Lexington, MA. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to A.R.C. Youth Services, American Red Cross of Mass Bay, 139 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142-1531.