John William Keeter

John William Keeter died peacefully on November 27, 2019 at the age of 53. He was born in East Point, Georgia on February 14, 1966. He was preceded in death by his father John Horace Keeter and his sister, Cynthia Ann Keeter.

He is survived by his wife of 17 years Patrece Givens Keeter, daughter Olivia Ann Keeter (age 16), son John-Marshall Horace Keeter (age 10), his mother Janice Sue Keeter, his sister Susan Keeter Holmes (Thad) and nieces Sheila Phillips (Joe), Emily Holmes and Allison Holmes, as well as extended family and many friends.

John was above all devoted to God, his family, and his community.

Mr. Keeter was a graduate of Riverdale High School where he proudly played football for the Riverdale Raiders. His college career at West Georgia ended early to return home to help with the family dry cleaning business. After various career twists and turns, Mr. Keeter’s career migrated toward technical customer service at Innovative Product Achievements (IPA).

Mr. Keeter was a long time member of the Hapeville Lions Club until he relocated to Tucker, serving in all roles up to and including President at the local level and as District Governor of 18-A at the State Level. He fully lived the Lion’s Club mission of helping others in many ways frequently picking up and driving patients from Angel Flight at PDK to Emory University for vision treatments, often paying for hotel rooms and other expenses out of his own pockets. He also participated in many other service projects. His family honored his final request to donate his eyes to the Emory Eye Bank so that others may see.

In 2003, Mr. Keeter moved from Hapeville to Tucker when he married Patrece, beginning a new stage of his life and service. At Dunwoody Baptist Church, Mr. Keeter served as a Sunday School Teacher, Financial Committee Member, AWANA Leader and more. In 2011, Mr. Keeter moved his membership to First Baptist Church of Tucker where he served on the Building and Grounds Committee, Search Committees, Board of Deacons and as Deacon Chair.

John Keeter loved God, his wife Patrece, his children Olivia and John-Marshall, his extended family, and his friends. He especially enjoyed working with children, maybe because he was just a big kid himself. In his final years, Mr. Keeter served as Cub Master to Cub Pack 129 in Tucker. He loved interacting with the kids and was the right person to be in charge when the pack diversified to allow girls. As a Dad he was totally committed - chaperoning elementary school field trips, cheering at soccer games, being a counselor at Cub Scout camps, pulling floats in the THS Homecoming parade, and even coaching soccer at TYSA- which he had to learn quickly since he had no prior knowledge of soccer at the time. He adored his children and was so very proud of them.

Mr. Keeter loved to travel both within the United States and overseas. He had visited all 50 states, except Alaska, which was a trip in the planning stages. He enjoyed driving cross country, trying to stay off the major highways and finding odd, unique destinations that were off the beaten path. Mr. Keeter enjoyed playing golf, which he did less of once he married Patrece and she put him on a budget. He loved traveling to England and Scotland and played several rounds of golf at the Old Course at Saint Andrews Golf Club and at other famous courses.

Mr. Keeter was a long time Atlanta Falcon’s season ticket holder and Georgia Tech fan. Needless to say, he saw a lot of bad football during his life. On fall Friday nights, you could find him at the Tucker High School football games with his family. In the spring, you could find him in the stands of the Tucker High School Girls Soccer Team proudly wearing his signature cowboy hat.

John Keeter’s life was short, but well lived. He touched many lives and will be remembered as a man of God with a servant’s heart, a loving husband, father, and son, a good story teller and as having a smile that could fill a room.

The family would like to express heartfelt thanks for the love and support that have been shown from the community.

The family will receive visitors at the Floral Hills Funeral Home at 3150 Lawrenceville Hwy, Tucker, GA, 30084 on December 1, 2019 from 6-8 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Tucker, 5073 Lavista Road, Tucker, GA, 30084 on Monday, December 2, 2019 at 4pm. A private interment will be held.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be given to Cub Pack 129 in his memory at PayPal.me/cherokeetrail or by mail at Pack 129, c/o Cherokee Trail and Campsite, P.O. Box 708, Tucker, GA 30085.