Colleen O’Keefe Thomas

Colleen O’Keefe Thomas, 61, of Boise, died on March 29, 2017 at a local hospital. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at the Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel.

Colleen was born on February 18, 1956 to Jack Binger O’Keefe and Carole Ann (Lee) O’Keefe in Colville, Washington. She grew up in Northport, Washington until the 8 ^th grade. She completed high school in Colville, Washington in 1973. She was an amazing student who was always on the high honor roll and even graduated from high school a year early.

She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from BSU in the 80’s. While in school working on her degree, she was also a wife, mother, full-time student, and worked full-time at nights at a nursing home. She worked in many nursing homes, the VA hospital, and at the ICU at St. Luke’s for almost 24 years. Colleen loved her work as a nurse. She always nursed everyone around her. She took extra care of Chris’ mother, Margret, until her passing and had a very special relationship with her brothers-in-law, Andy and John.

Colleen and Christopher Thomas were married in 2007. They enjoyed a beautiful wedding ceremony at Kathryn Albertson Park in the presence of family and friends. The couple enjoyed a honeymoon to the San Juan Islands and then also a riverboat trip a few years later to Germany. Colleen had a difficult time dealing with Chris’ passing and missed him dearly.

Colleen was all about family. That was the most important thing to her. She and her only daughter, Jodi, were inseparable. They enjoyed an extra special close relationship and did many things together. Many family gatherings were held at Colleen’s house through the years. She also hosted an O’Keefe family reunion during the summer of 2012 at her Boise home. Family and long-time close friends spent a couple of days enjoying each other’s company.

Colleen is survived by her children, Jodi (Clarence), Doug Jr., Ryan Combe, Carl Combe (Jill), Miles Thomas, and Carter; brothers and sisters, Doreen, Denny (Linda), Mike (Michelle), Pat (Caila), Mollie (Mike), Kathy (Mike), and Janeen (John), numerous grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Carole, son Craig Combe, her grandson Akia Knibbe, and her husband Christopher Thomas.