She began her studies in mathematics at Los Angeles Community College.
[1] By 1948, Keefe was working as a textile designer for Dorothy Leibis Studio in New York City which provided textile designs to the furnishings firm, Goodall Industries.
She also created freelance designs for other home decorative lines and wallpaper for various firms.
Later, she began designing handkerchiefs commissioned by J. H. Kimball for Lord & Taylor in New York.
Keefe was best known for her bright colors playful designs on handkerchiefs, kitchen towels and scarves.