Obituary of Billy Keeton, Saline Co, AR

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Submitted by: Darcy Stonesifer
        Date: October 2006
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Billy Bedford Keeton

Billy Bedford Keeton, 73, Huntingdon, Tenn. died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006, at
his home.

He was born Dec. 30, 1932, to Bedford Benard Keeton and Ora Duck Keeton on their
Bath Springs, Tenn., farm.

Mr. Keeton graduated in 1953 from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He
soon was inducted into the Army at Fort Jackson, S.C. He remained at Fort
Jackson for two years as a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
101st Infantry Division Airborne.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, he again entered public service as
an agricultural extension agent in Carroll County with the University of
Tennessee Extension Services. As an extension agent, Mr. Keeton was a 4-H leader
and was active as an adviser and instructor with 4-H soil and cattle judging
teams. The last 10 years before retirement, Mr. Keeton was the County Extension
leader.

Throughout his life in Carroll County, he held offices in the Lions Club and the
Tennessee Association of Fairs (TAF). He served as a director of the association
from 1963-1965. From 1966 to 1968, he was the West Tennessee vice president. In
January 1991, he was honored with the Thorton Taylor Lifetime Service Award. But
he will be most remembered for his 51 years as Carroll County Fair manager.

He was an avid bowler. He bowled for his company in the Army and has bowled on
leagues in Jackson, Paris and McKenzie for the past 44 years. Most recently, Mr.
Keeton placed in the 2005 ABC Amateur Bowlers Tour held in Baton Rouge.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Mae Ridings Keeton; two daughters,
Teresa Keeton Winter and husband Wiley of Bartlett, Tenn., and Tina Keeton
Fentem and husband Don of Benton; one son, Billy Keith Keeton and wife Karen of
Edmonds, Wash.; four sisters; two brothers; and eight grandchildren.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Huntingdon First United
Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jim Cooper and Dr. Bill Bailey officiating.
Burial will be in Carroll County Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday in the Cherrywood Room of Chase
Funeral Home in Huntingdon, Tenn.

Memorials may be made to the Huntingdon First United Methodist Church Relay for
Live Team.

Family comments: Many people in Carroll County knew Billy Keeton because of his
work with the Carroll County Fair, Carroll County 4-H or from the frequent
chicken barbecues held for several charitable events over the past 40 years.
Always the quiet man, the public is unaware of many of Mr. Keeton's
undertakings. He grew up working the land with his brothers and his father and
learned about Jesus at the Keeton Springs Methodist Church.