The O'Kelleys moved to SW 2nd place in Tioga about two and a half years ago.  Originally from Atlanta, they spent time in Myrtle Beach before settling in Gainesville.  Carey and Katherine met 22 years ago on the beach in Panama City when Katherine was celebrating her family’s new beach house, and Carey was there vacationing with friends. Carey was strolling down the beach, and they locked eyes. Katherine got the nerve to start a conversation with him, and the rest is history!

 

Their family of five includes Harper, a 12-year-old attending school at The Rock; Rhett, a 9-year-old attending Westside Christian; and Soleil, their Bichon Frise, who is almost 15. Soleil was their first baby.  She is spunky and enjoys long naps, snuggling with her family, chasing her tail, and begging for snacks.

 

Carey is an Aerospace Engineer for Consortia Aerospace; However, he and Katherine have recently launched a new venture together!  This fall, they opened the doors to Black Optix Tint, a window tinting and auto restyling business.  They have a store in Alachua, and both spend time working there together.  With the Florida heat, window tinting is necessary to keep things comfortable and conserve energy.   Black Optix provides services for auto, home, and commercial spaces.

 

Katherine is a Junior League of Gainesville member and volunteers through the Action Against Hunger committee at Food 4 Kids, SWAG, and Catholic Charities. She also attends a neighborhood bible study and book club. She shared, “We love the friends we have met and how friendly everyone is in Tioga. It's a community where you can call on people to help and support you. We've been a part of a lot of fantastic social events. The kids enjoy getting out in the neighborhood and feeling safe doing activities outside.”

 

Harper plays basketball and performs in school theater productions. Rhett loves basketball and football and is often seen playing outside with friends. He is a video game fanatic and enjoys trading Pokémon cards and fighting Beyblade. The kids are involved in everything Katherine and Carey do, whether working on the house, cleaning up the yard, running their business, or having fun. Both kids enjoy attending their youth groups at Anthem Church.  

Locally, the O’Kelleys spend time outdoors and enjoy checking out different restaurants. They love taking out their boat with friends or kayaking in the springs if the weather is good. They are self-proclaimed ‘Disney fanatics,’ so they visit the theme parks in Orlando whenever possible. Taking advantage of all the things the beautiful state of Florida has to offer is essential to them. Favorite places around town are Uppercrust for pastries, Piesanos or Satchels for pizza, Mi Apa or Samba for Latin food, and Alpin Bistro, Superette, or Capricious for date nights. They also love to try out new ice cream spots. The Haile farmers market has always been a favorite.

 

The O’Kelley family loves traveling! If they aren't working, they’re planning weekend getaways. They typically plan these trips around their birthdays to celebrate. They love visiting family at Panama City Beach, the lake in SC, and the mountains in Ellijay, GA.  They feel so blessed to have some built-in family vacation spots. They've been on some Disney cruises and thought they were fantastic. They hope to go on a Mediterranean cruise someday, too.  

 

Katherine advises new Tioga residents, “You will get out of it what you put into it. There are so many wonderful people here who are open to new relationships. Be patient and get out in the neighborhood and town center. If you have kids, spend time at the pool or playground, and you'll meet some other families. Come to the events! You may have to step out of your comfort zone and put yourself out there, but it's worth it!”