Kathy O’Keefe, a Flower Mound resident who started a nonprofit to fight drug addiction, died on Tuesday morning after sudden complications related to liver cancer.
She was 68.
“She passed peacefully with her son Kyle and myself by her side,” her husband Ben said in a statement shared by the nonprofit. “She was an incredible woman, wife, and mother and I will miss her greatly. I know there were so many people that she helped that will miss her as well.”
About 15 years ago, O’Keefe’s 18-year-old son Brett died of an accidental drug overdose. Soon after, O’Keefe formed the nonprofit Winning The Fight, providing drug education, support and resources to people struggling with addiction and their families. O’Keefe received the Flower Mound Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award in 2016, and she attended a White House Opioids Summit in 2018.
“Stacy and I share in the immense grief of the passing of Kathy B. Coules O’Keefe. She is a community champion,” said local real estate agent Jay Marks. “She has saved countless lives. She has sat in hundreds of emergency rooms while a drug overdose victim is having their stomachs pumped. She has mourned with countless parents who has lost a child to drug overdose. And sadly tonight, she has passed away. She was a force of goodness. And could not be stopped in her quest to win the fight and educate people about the dangers of drug addiction. We were honored to work beside her, sponsor her projects and charity. We are better for knowing her. And we will miss her deeply.”
Winning The Fight wants to create a memorial filled with community members’ memories of O’Keefe.
“If you have photos of Kathy — whether they capture a smile, a shared laugh, or a special moment — please send them our way,” the nonprofit said in a social media post. “Your contributions will help us celebrate her incredible spirit and the impact she had on everyone around her.”
Photos can be emailed to [email protected] or texted to 214-435-1154.
Kathy O’Keefe (1958-2024)
Kathy Beth O’Keefe, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, December 31st 2024, surrounded by family after battling complications from liver cancer. She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter, and a friend to many. Born September 27th, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois, Kathy was raised by her parents, Harry and Katherine Coules, along with her brother, Jim. Following her passion, Kathy attended and graduated from the Harrington Institute with a degree in Design. She worked as an Interior Designer in Dallas and subsequently, Los Angeles, where she met her husband, Ben. They married in 1989, and had two children, Kyle (1990) and Brett (1992).
In 1995, they moved to Flower Mound, TX, where Kathy started her own company (Kathy B.), selling women’s purses and accessories. After the loss of her son Brett to addiction in 2010, Kathy became a community resource for kids and families struggling with addiction, inspiring her to start her life’s work: ‘Winning the Fight’ (WTF) in 2011. WTF is an organization focused on helping families navigate the challenging road of addiction. As CEO and founder, Kathy worked tirelessly with WTF to help those who did not know where to turn during a difficult time and has brought hope to and provided resources for hundreds of families in Flower Mound and the greater Dallas area. Her work also included frequent visits to middle and high schools throughout Texas, where she taught children about drug awareness and the dangers of addiction. Kathy will always be remembered for the love and compassion she showed all who have crossed paths with WTF. She fought endlessly for those in need, those she loved, and those who had so much more life to live.
Kathy was also a member of the Cross Timbers Rotary Club. As a Rotarian, she focused on teaching the community about life-saving measures to take to help to reverse drug overdoses using Naloxone.
When not helping people through WTF, Kathy spent her free time painting, creating other art, and spending time with friends. The word ‘no’ was not in her vocabulary, as she was always the organizer, host, helper, and life of the party. She was also a voracious reader, an avid traveler, and a frequent lover of live music including attending over 27 concerts with Ben in 2023.
Kathy was predeceased by her father Harry, brother Jim, and son Brett. She is survived by her mother Katherine, husband Ben, and son Kyle.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to ‘Winning the Fight’ to help continue her work supporting the families navigating addiction. Information on WFT and a link to donate can be found at wtf-winningthefight.org
