[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 42 (Friday, March 9, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF RETIRED MISSISSIPPI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD MAJOR 
                       GENERAL (MG) JERRY KEETON

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                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 9, 2018

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
retired Mississippi Army National Guard and Army Reserve Major General 
(MG) Jerry Keeton who passed away on Saturday, February 24, 2018, in 
Baldwyn, Mississippi. MG Keeton, a native of Wheeler, Mississippi, was 
known for his devotion to God, country, family, and to his many 
friends.
  MG Keeton was born on March 17, 1937. He enjoyed playing basketball 
at Wheeler High School and served as the captain of the team when they 
won the 1955 State Basketball Championship. Upon graduation, MG Keeton 
entered Mississippi State University (MSU), where he continued his love 
of basketball by serving as the co-captain of the MSU Bulldogs Men's 
Basketball Team. The team won the Southeastern Conference Championship 
in 1959. He was also a member of the Blue Key Honor Society and 
President of the M-Club. He was a proud ROTC Graduate. MG Keeton was a 
Distinguished Engineering Fellow and earned a degree in civil 
engineering in 1959.
  In 1960, MG Keeton joined the United States Army. The following year, 
MG Keeton married Josie Browning. He began a long and successful career 
that included command of troops at the Platoon, Company, Battalion, 
Brigade, and Group unit levels in the Mississippi Army National Guard. 
He served as Deputy Commander, Reserve Command of the 2nd U.S. Army 
located at Fort Gillem, Georgia. Following a long and distinguished 
military career, MG Keeton retired from the Army in 1993.
  In the civilian world, MG Keeton was a registered professional 
engineer. He worked for the USDA National Resources Conservation 
Service from 1965-2002 as a supervisory civil engineer. While living in 
Tupelo, Mississippi, MG Keeton was an active member of Harrisburg 
Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.
  After a distinguished engineering career, MG Keeton retired and moved 
back to his hometown. He and his wife became members of Booneville 
First Baptist Church. It was in Wheeler where MG Keeton decided to 
become a cattle farmer. In addition to his love of farming, MG Keeton 
enjoyed hunting for quail and going fishing. He remained a loyal fan of 
Mississippi State University and Wheeler High School athletics, 
regularly attending games, especially basketball.
  Jerry Hutcheson, a friend of MG Keeton and fellow member of 
Booneville First Baptist Church, said he always enjoyed MG Keeton's 
sense of humor. He liked to make people laugh. ``Jerry was just a good 
guy,'' Mr. Hutcheson said. ``He loved to talk politics every morning as 
a member of the Hardee's Coffee Club. He was devoted to everyone in the 
Berea Sunday School Class and to all his fellow senior adults in the 
church. He loved people.''
  A funeral was held on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, at First Baptist 
Church in Booneville. Reverend Carter Smith and Dr. Lynn Jones 
officiated. MG Keeton was laid to rest at the Booneville Cemetery.
  MG Keeton is survived by his wife of 56 years, Josie Browning Keeton; 
their son, Joe Keeton; and his brother, Billy Keeton. He was preceded 
in death by his parents, Wilmer E. and Helen Martin Keeton.
  MG Keeton was a true leader, who proudly served our nation. He 
touched many lives in both his professional and private life. MG Keeton 
will be missed.

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