Known by his friends and family as Tok, Mr O'Keeffe died along side his best friend of 11 years, Labrador Cocker Spaniel Coco, just days before his 28^th birthday.

Friend Jamie Clarke said Tok and Coco literally went everywhere together.

"She was truly his best friend. It was the cutest thing ever," he said.

Older sister Jess Kerr said Tok, the youngest of five siblings, was a positive, optimistic guy who loved a challenge.

"He always had a positive outlook and positive word to say and a big smile," she said.

"He was really fit, just a happy sort of a guy. Optimistic, ridiculously smiley.

"He will be missed by anyone he's ever worked for."

Mrs Kerr said the family had received heartwarming messages from past employers who paid tribute to how professional he was.

"He always did a task meticulously from the beginning to the end and it didn't matter what they threw at him, he did it. He absolutely loved a challenge and always delivered on it," she said.

"He loved his family. That was why he moved to Darwin in the first place."

His other brothers Aaron, Ty and Grant, along with his father Jim, live in Darwin. His mum Dianne Taylor and sister Jess live in Warrnambool.

Tok had worked at Kermonds Hamburgers as a teenager and, after finishing year 12 at Brauer College, he completed a pre-apprenticeship at Tafe before doing his electrical apprenticeship with Leahy's.

He later worked for Umbers Electrical before moving to Darwin three years ago to work for his brother Ty, spending much of his time installing solar panels.

"He loved everything about the top end. He loved the fish, he loved the weather and he loved the fact he could walk around without his T-shirt on all day and that was OK," Mrs Kerr said.

Mr Clarke, who has known him since high school, said Tok was one of the most outgoing blokes he'd ever met.

"He lived life to the full, making the most of every opportunity he had," he said.

"He would never be seen sitting around doing nothing, he would always be outside doing something."

Mr Clarke said he and Tok played football at North Warrnambool when they were teenagers, and Tok was involved with Warrnambool's surf life saving club until his early 20s.

"He and his brothers were always fishing and working and having the best life up there. They were always outside doing something with the dogs up there," Mr Clarke said.

"He was always working on his utes, he loved fishing, four-wheel driving, going to the beach with his dog Coco.

"He's a real outdoors person. You'd never catch him sitting around doing nothing at all.

"He was amazing."

Mr Clarke said Tok had been planning a trip home to catch up with his close-knit circle of friends.

"Everyone who ever crossed paths with Tok would always be left with a lasting memory with his big smile. He had dimples on his face, blue eyes and chiseled chin. He was the best looking rooster in our group for sure," he said.

The funeral will be held on Sunday at Eastern Park at 12pm followed by drinks at Simon's Waterfront.