Sharon M. O’Kief, beloved Mother, Grandma, Sister and so much more was called to God on March 13, 2024, at age 86. She was born Sharon Marie Moran on November 5, 1937 in Omaha to James J. Moran and Alice (Adrian) Moran. Sharon was the second of five children born to JJ and Alice, with her siblings Michael (who died at birth), Kathy (Foote), Nancy (Kahm), Tim Moran and John Moran. Sharon remained close with her siblings and their families throughout her life.
Sharon grew up in Omaha and attended Omaha Cathedral from grade school through high school. She then attended Duchesne Academy in Omaha for college, and upon graduating became a teacher. Sharon taught English at Omaha Technical High School and Omaha Bishop Ryan High School. She would later substitute teach at Valentine High School.
In 1966, Sharon married W. Gerald (Jerry) O’Kief and moved to the Nebraska Sandhills—first Valentine, and then O’Kief Brothers Ranch near Wood Lake, where she would remain for the rest of her life. Sharon and Jerry had a long and loving relationship and were married for 50 years until Jerry preceded her in death in 2018.
On the ranch they raised four children—Greg, Mary and twins John and Joe. Jerry and Sharon partnered on and shared the ranch with Jerry’s brother Jim O’Kief and his wife Rita (our dear “Uncle Jim and Aunt Rita”).
Sharon was a woman of great faith and a loyal member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Valentine. She developed many friendships in the Sandhills, the Wood Lake community and the parish, and she was a source of light to all those who knew her.
She spent her last years in the wonderful care of the staff and with many friends at Cherry Hills Estates; the O’Kief family is grateful to the team and residents at Cherry Hills for making her time there so enjoyable.
Although many of her contemporaries have passed, Sharon touched the lives of multiple generations, all of whom loved her. Sharon embodied all the good of humanity— kindness, faith, humor, beauty, humility and love. We will miss her greatly, but we thank God for the gift she was to all of us.
Sharon is preceded in death by her parents, JJ and Alice; her siblings, Michael, Kathy and Tim and her husband, Jerry, and their son Joe.
She is survived by her children, Greg (Jennay) O’Kief, Mary (Bill) Dittrich and John O’Kief, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Services will be held April 25 (rosary) at 7:00 p.m., and April 26 (Catholic funeral and burial) at 10:00 a.m., at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Valentine. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine (www.sandozfuneralhome.com) is handling arrangements.
