Robert Cecil Keeton

Robert (Bob) Cecil Keeton, Jr., 79, of Walland, TN peacefully went to be with his Lord in Heaven on September 9, 2013. He was surrounded by his life love, Helen Keeton, the Mother of his three loving daughters, his special friend, Billy Moneymaker, and his dear caregiver, Melba Smith. He was born to the late Robert and Izora Keeton on February 10, 1934, in Waynesboro, TN. He graduated from Columbia Military Academy and then went on to attend Middle Tennessee State University. Robert was a passionate construction man and was the youngest foreman for Omen Construction in 1957, when he was sent overseas to build an airport in Pakistan. He first came to Sevier County in 1968 on a contract to build the Great Smoky Mountains National Park / Gatlinburg By-pass. After completion, he remained in Gatlinburg and decided to make it home. He loved the town and believed it would be the best place to raise his family. Robert further believed in always helping others. He was a very generous man, a great motivator and an exceptional teacher to many young men in the field of construction. He always put the needs of others before his own which made him "the friend above all friends". He was a very simple man. He owned and operated Keeton Construction Co. for several decades. When his friends refer to him, they all say the same thing, "he was the hardest working man they ever knew". There very few things that could get him off of his equipment - Tennessee football and Lady Vol basketball were two of them. He was a huge Pat Head Summitt fan. He was also an avid pilot and loved to fly. He was deeply loved by his family and he will be greatly missed. Robert is survived by his five children: Robert Keeton, III, and wife, Chenda of Alaska, John Keeton and wife, Gelian of Florida, Cindy Werner and husband, Mike of Gatlinburg, TN, Amy Shea and husband, Mike of Atlanta, GA, and Sabrina Johnson and husband, Robert of Las Vegas, NV; his loving sister, Norma Barker of Hawaii, and two nephews, Charles and Paul Barker. He is also survived by nine adoring grandchildren - Jennifer, Adam, Izora, Ivory, Micki, Al, Sonni Rae, Grant, and Steffi, and three great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 2 pm at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Waynesboro, TN with Marshall Keeton officiating. Burial will follow with Shackelford Funeral Directors, Wayne County, directing. Visitation will be thirty minutes before the service at the cemetery.