Billy Bedford Keeton

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Billy Bedford Keeton

Mr. Billy Bedford Keeton, 73, of Huntingdon, Tennessee passed away Wednesday, September 20, 2006, at his home.

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 last 40 years. Always the quiet man, the public is unaware of many of Mr. Keeton's undertakings.

Mr. Keeton was born on December 30, 1932 to the late Bedford Benard Keeton and Ora (Duck) Keeton on their Bath Springs, Tennessee farm. He grew up working the land with his brothers and his father and learned about Jesus at the Keeton Springs Methodist Church.

He graduated in 1953 from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He was soon inducted into the U. S. Army at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. 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, Mr. Keeton 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 advisor and instructor with 4-H soil and cattle judging teams. The last ten years before retirement, Mr. Keeton was the County Extension Leader.

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

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

He is survived by his wife of 49 years Mae Ridings Keeton, two daughters, Teresa Keeton Winter (husband Wiley) of Bartlett, Tennessee, Tina Keeton Fentem (husband Don) of Benton, Arkansas and one son Billy Keith Keeton (wife Karen) of Edmonds, Washington, four sisters, two brothers, and eight grandchildren.

The family will receive friends in the Cherrywood Room of Chase Funeral Home on Saturday, September 23, from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 at 2:00 P.M. at the Huntingdon First United Methodist Church with Rev. Jim Cooper and Dr. Bill Bailey officiating; Interment will follow in the Carroll County Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be sent to the Huntingdon First United Methodist Church Relay for Life Team.

Chase Funeral Home 731-986-0500

As reported in The Jackson Sun on 09/23/2006

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