Julie O'Keefe

Julie O’Keefe, 42, of Denver, NC passed away at her residence on Saturday, April 6, 2024.

Born in Guilford County, NC, she was the daughter of Samuel Lee Isley and Kathy Kennington Isley, who survive. She was a registered nurse with Caldwell County Health Department and a member of Friendship Church.

Julie graduated from Southern Alamance High School where she received the LM Adcock Award and was inducted into the Southern Alamance Athletic Hall of Fame. She went on to Lenoir Rhyne University, playing soccer four years and elected to All Conference. At East Carolina University, she received a Master’s Degree in Health Science. She was inducted as a coach into the N. C. Hall of Fame with her soccer team after winning a National Championship in Sacramento, CA. Later in life, she accomplished her lifelong goal of becoming a Registered Nurse.

She was diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma in March, 2018. She fought this battle with her courageous spirit, never giving up and continually seeking a cure. Her perseverance and determination was driven by her love for her son Jonah. As she told her mother, “There was nothing she wouldn’t do for Jonah” which was evident as she attended Jonah’s soccer games even when she was in intense pain and confined to a wheelchair.

She was blessed to have many loving people surround her throughout her life. Her Mom and Dad, her brother Lee and his wife Erin, fiance Jason Powell, aunts, Pat and Debra, and cousins surrounded her with their love and care. Her lifelong college/soccer teammates were a wonderful joy to her life. Her colleagues at Caldwell County Health Department were a true blessing for her. She was a warrior, fighting for life every moment of her day.

In addition to her parents of Snow Camp, survivors include a son, Jonah Craig O’Keefe of Denver, NC; brother, Lee Isley and wife Erin of Belmont; fiancé, Jason Powell of Boone; niece, Emerson Isley; nephews, Ethan Isley and Elliott Isley, all of Belmont; aunts, Pat and uncle Ray Tucker of Chester, VA and Debra London of Loudon, TN; and cousins, Christi and Richard Goyne, Zach and Evan, Kimberly Tucker and Jennifer Frazier, all of Chester, VA, Sydney and Glen Cranmer; Peyton Patterson; Kenley Patterson, all of Columbia, SC; Abby and Lincoln Huskey of Knoxville, TN; and Jason and Mindy Isley of Liberty, NC. She was preceded in death by an aunt, Wendy Kennington Patterson and uncle, Charles Daniel Isley.

The funeral service will be conducted at Friendship Church on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. by Rev. Al Horne and Rev. Mike Kelly. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will speak to friends following the committal service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Friendship Church, 4612 Friendship Patterson Mill Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or to Caldwell County Health Department, 2345 Morganton Blvd., Lenoir, NC 28645, or to McCreary Cancer Center, 212 Mulberry Street, SW, Lenoir, NC 28645.

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