Son of John F. and Catherine E.C. Keefe. Brother of Walter L., John F., William F., and Valentine Keefe and Mrs. Mary J. Bruielley, and M. St. Catherine. Graduated from Blossburg high school in 1907 and from Mercersburg Academy in 1909. Graduated Pennsylvania State College in 1913 with 2nd highest award in class with degree of Bachelor of Science in Forestry. Entered United States Forest Service as field assistant on June 14, 1913. Stationed in North Carolina until September 30, 1913. Appointed forest assistant on Montezuma National Forest i Colorado on May 29, 1914. Appointed assistant forest ranger and transferred to Sopris National Forest on March 1, 1915. Promoted to forest ranger August 11, 1916, to forest assistant June 5, 1917, to deputy forest supervisor October 1, 1917, transferred to Montezuma National Forest May 7, 1918. Enlisted May 15, 1918 at Camp Custer, Michigan, attending Fourth Officers' Training School. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant at Camp Zachary Taylor on August 31, 1918. Assigned to Battery C, 1st Regiment, Field Artillery. Keefe Peak in Holy Cross National Forest named for him.