William Craig Keese

Craig was born on February 16, 1941, in Anderson, SC. He was raised on a farm in Oakway, SC and was a 1958 graduate of Oakway High. Craig attended Clemson University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1963 and a Master of Science in 1965. Shortly following graduation, Craig became an agricultural chemical salesman and continued to work until he was in his mid-seventies. Craig’s sales career took him all over the world including Europe, Asia, and South America.

Craig married Jenny Faile on December 17th, 1966, in Greenville, SC. Together they had two children, Meredith and Brian, and lived in several different states with the longest time in Tennessee and South Carolina. Craig returned to his beloved home state of South Carolina in 2007 and lived the remainder of his life close to family and lifelong friends.

When Craig’s son and grandson, Brian and Nathan, died in a boating accident in 2010, he found a new passion in the establishment of a water safety foundation and the building of life jacket loaner stations. As a result of his relentless efforts, there are now over 50 loaner board stations at lakes in SC, NC, GA, and MO.

Craig will be remembered as someone who loved socializing and never met a stranger. Due to his vast travels, he loved learning about other cultures and people and had a great respect for his own family history here in South Carolina. His life and experiences were wide yet the things he enjoyed most were simple joys like visiting with loved ones and reading a good book.

Craig is survived by his daughter Meredith and husband Scott, along with four grandchildren, Ava, Sam, Reeves, and Anna Lynn; his brother and wife, Deryl and Carolyn Keese; three nephews, Ryan Keese, Jimmy Coker, and Kevin Coker; and one niece, Ami Edwards.

Craig was preceded in death by his parents William Thomas and Almeda Craig Keese, his wife, Jenny, and his son and grandson, Brian and Nathan.

A visitation for Craig will be held Friday, July 29, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Century Drive, 311 Century Drive, Greenville, SC 29607, followed by a memorial service at 1:30 PM. A private family committal service will immediately follow at Craig Memorial Cemetery, adjacent to the Old Pickens Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Craig's memory may be made to Safe Kids Upstate (Please indicate in memory of Craig Keese-water safety), Bradshaw Institute for Community Child Health and Advocacy Attn: Safe Kids Upstate, 255 Enterprise Blvd- Suite 110, Greenville, South Carolina 29615; and The Sea Tow Foundation, www.seatow.com.