James J. O'Keefe, 79, microbiologist at UMJames J...

James J. O'Keefe, 79, microbiologist at UM

James J. O'Keefe, a former microbiologist who was a prisoner of war during World War II, died of pneumonia June 16 at the Care Matrix Nursing Home in Kensington. He was 79.

Mr. O'Keefe, who lived in Silver Spring most of his life, worked at the University of Maryland, Baltimore as a microbiologist from 1962 to 1984, when he retired.

At the university, he did research on fleas, ticks and chiggers. Because of his work, he went on expeditions throughout Southeast Asia.

The native of Altoona, Pa., joined the Army in 1935. During World War II, he was a medic and was captured by the Japanese at a hospital in Manila in the Philippines and was a prisoner from 1942 to 1945.

A memorial Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. Aug. 9 at St. Catherine Laboure Roman Catholic Church in Wheaton.

Survivors include his wife, the former Arriatta Otto, whom he married in 1946; a son, James J. O'Keefe. of Columbia; two daughters, Colleen Estep of Silver Spring and Kathleen Pearce of Germantown; and six grandchildren.

Etta Turner Simms, 67, longtime city school teacher

Etta Turner Simms, a longtime Baltimore public school teacher, died Tuesday of cancer at her Northwest Baltimore home. She was 67.

From 1969 until last month, Mrs. Simms taught at several city schools, most recently at Pimlico Middle School.

The former Etta Turner, a Baltimore native, graduated from St. Francis Academy in 1947 and received a bachelor's degree from Coppin State College in 1952 and a master's degree from Loyola College in 1967.

She married Charles Simms in 1949.

For the last 40 years, Mrs. Simms was a member of St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church, 3300 Windsor Ave., where she was a member of the Legion of Mary and where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Monday.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by three sons, Claude Simms of Baltimore, Darryl Simms of Wilmington, Del., and Barry Simms of Shreveport, La.; two daughters, Carla Pierce and Charla Simms, both of Baltimore; and five grandchildren.

Rubye Moore Harris, 82, Baltimore schoolteacher

Rubye Moore Harris, a retired Baltimore City public school teacher, died Tuesday at Liberty Medical Center from complications of Alzheimer's disease. She was 82 and lived in Fulton Heights in West Baltimore.

Mrs. Harris began her teaching career in North Carolina, where she taught for 10 years before moving to Baltimore in 1945. She taught in city elementary schools for 28 years and retired in 1973.

The former Rubye Moore grew up in Granville County, N.C., and graduated from Fayetteville State Teachers College.

She was a longtime member of Brown's Memorial Baptist Church, 3215 W. Belvedere Ave., where she was a deaconess and a Sunday school teacher, and started a Youth Corps.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the church.

Survivors include her husband, Delmo C. Harris, whom she married in 1945; a son, Robert Harris of Baltimore; a daughter, Deleanor Harris Boone of Ellicott City; two brothers, Thomas Moore of Washington and Jordan Moore of Baltimore; and an aunt, Pearl Curtis of Durham, N.C.

Ellen Tickner Royster, 82, 45-year Red Cross volunteer

Ellen Tickner Royster, a homemaker who was a volunteer at the Baltimore chapter of the Red Cross for 45 years, died of cancer Tuesday at Manor Care in Ruxton. She was 82.

Mrs. Royster served on the board of directors of the Red Cross. She also was on the organization's Nursing Committee and Disaster Services Committee, and directed the International and House committees.

The former Ellen Tickner was raised in the Forest Park section of Baltimore and graduated from Forest Park High School in 1933 and Goucher College in 1937 with a degree in English.

Mrs. Royster was active in Goucher College affairs, serving in the alumni association and recently helping to organize her class reunion.

She married John Royster in 1940. He is deceased.

Mrs. Royster, a longtime Roland Park resident, was a member of the Woman's Club of Roland Park and its president from 1961 to 1964; Baltimore Country Club; the Stoney Run Garden Club; and the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland.

She was a member of the First Christian Church, 5802 Roland Ave., where services are scheduled for noon Monday.

She is survived by two daughters, Jenia Royster Brown of Baltimore and Louise Royster Brown of Pittsburgh; a sister, Mary Virginia Williamson of Montgomery, Ala.; and three grandsons.

Martin Robert Rowell, 76, sales representative

Martin Robert Rowell, a retired sales representative, died of pneumonia June 21 at the Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. The Lutherville resident was 76.

A native of Citronelle, Ala., Mr. Rowell moved to the Baltimore area in 1960 to work as a sales representative for Radcliff Materials, a Pittsburgh-based firm that marketed grain products to poultry farmers. He retired about 10 years ago.

In 1958, he married Mary Murphy Rowell, who survives him.

Mr. Rowell enjoyed cooking and gardening.

He was an active member of University Baptist Church, 3501 N. Charles St., and served on its board of deacons. Services will be held at the church at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

He also is survived by a son, M. Robert Rowell Jr. of Greensboro, N.C.; and two grandchildren.

Pub Date: 7/18/97