Gary Francis Keeton

Gary Francis Keeton was born September 27, 1955, to Grady Francis and Mamie (Miller) Keeton of Pearl, Texas. He passed away from this world on Friday, November 22, 2024, at the age of 69.

Gary’s family will receive visitors at 2:00 p.m. Monday, December 2, 2024 at Grace Bible Church at 4012 E. US Hwy 84 in Gatesville. Memorial services will follow visitation at 3:00 p.m. at the church.

Gary was born and raised in Pearl, Texas, attending school in Gatesville. Growing up in the country, he would spend a great amount of time with his dad, hauling hay, hunting, raising and training bird dogs, fishing, and working the acreage of land that his ancestors had settled and lived on for over a century. His mother was an elementary school teacher in Pearl and surrounding areas, including Gatesville. Gary and his sister, Kathy, were raised with old-fashioned country values, rooted in the Christian faith that was so prevalent in the community of Pearl. 

As a kid, Gary was active in sports, playing football, basketball, and baseball while in school. He was quite a competitor, especially on the football field in high school for the Hornets where he earned the respect of all that played with him due to his grit, toughness, and selfless spirited leadership. 

In junior high school, Gary met and later fell in love with a girl from the other side of Coryell County, Debbie Magee. They became high school sweethearts and soon after graduation in 1974, they married and started a family, settling in the community of Mound just outside of Gatesville. They were inseparable for over 50 years. 

Gary worked for Central Texas Ironworks in Waco for many years, and briefly for Hercules in McGregor, before taking a job at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Gatesville where he would retire in 2012 after 25 years of service. After retirement, he worked part-time as a driver for Central Texas HOP Transportation, serving the community he loved so much with his caring attitude towards people in need. Gary took pride in his work and paid close attention to detail. He was a steady and faithful servant leader, whether at the workplace, at his church, or at the Little League ballparks in Gatesville where he coached, umpired, and did numerous other behind the scenes jobs to serve the youth of the community. He was also a jokester, keeping his family, extended family, and everyone he worked with on their toes with his light-hearted and contagious sense of humor.

Gary, affectionately known as “PA”, loved his family dearly and cherished the moments they had together hunting, fishing, playing ball, watching or listening to Texas Rangers baseball games, eating good home-cooked meals, playing cards and dominoes, etc. He spent countless hours coaching his kids and grandkids on the baseball field and poured into the other kids on the team as if they were his own. He never seemed to miss a teachable moment with the kids. 

Most of all though, Gary loved Jesus Christ and wanted to honor his Savior in every aspect of his life. He was a faithful servant and member of Grace Bible Church and he loved his church family dearly, teaching children's Sunday School classes with Debbie for a number of years. Although recent illness significantly challenged him, he still strove to model and speak love to his kids, grandkids, and all those around him.

Gary was preceded in death by his mother, Mamie, in 1973; father, Grady, in 2003; step-mother, Florene (Ma), in 2010; father-in-law, William Maurice Magee, who was like a second father to him, in 2021; and a brother-in-law, Mike Magee, who was like a brother to him, in 2020.

Gary is survived by his wife of 50 years, Debbie Keeton; son, Geremy Keeton and his wife Heather, and their children Garrison, Grant, and Madilyn, of Colorado Springs, CO; son, Gip Keeton and his wife Casey, and their sons Gage and Garner, of Marble Falls; son, Graig Keeton and his wife Morgan, and their children Gehrig, Grady, and Mamie, of Gatesville; sister, Kathy Sievers and husband Steve, of Gatesville; nieces, Kandi Luensmann and her family of Gatesville, and Kari McKown and husband Mark and her family of China Spring; mother-in-law, Sue Magee of Gatesville; and numerous other cousins and Magee in-laws that he loved dearly. 

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to Grace Bible Church, 4012 E. US Hwy. 84, Gatesville, TX 76528 or Pearl Cemetery Association, C/O Deborah Holloway, 5840 FM 183, Evant, TX 76525.