Garfield "Gar" Henry Keaton

Born in Aiken, South Carolina, Gar graduated from Aiken High School and completed his undergraduate degree at Wofford College. Gar began his career at the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Lab as a research assistant in the lab of noted herpetologist Whit Gibbons. There, he contributed to numerous scientific papers and publications and livened up even the most tedious field work with his calm confidence with animals and his dry, sarcastic humor. One of the highlights of his time at the lab was his appearance on the television program Wild Kingdom.

In 1982 Gar returned to school to pursue a new career, earning a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Upon graduation he accepted a software engineering position with IBM where he worked until deciding to follow his entrepreneurial instincts and start his own company. He founded Emergency Technologies Incorporated, a software company focused on developing mobile software solutions for fire and EMS professionals.

Gar had a deeply curious nature. He was always taking things apart, putting them back together, and finding ways to improve them. He loved spending time outdoors and found particular satisfaction in hands-on hobbies such as woodworking, where his patience and precision were on full display. He was especially drawn to restoration work, bringing old or broken things back to life.

Gar was preceded in death by his father, Rob Keaton; his mother, Kathryn Jewell Keaton; and an infant sibling.

He is survived by his daughters, Laura Keaton (Nicholas Todaro) and Lisa Keaton (Pieter Steenhuis).

Family and friends are invited to attend A Celebration of Life was held on Thursday, May 21, at 2:00pm in the Chapel of Mitchell Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his honor to The Courageous Conservation Trust for North Carolina, the Turtle Survival Alliance, the Nature Conservancy, or the Audubon Society, by using the links below, under 'Donations'.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Gar, or a message of condolence for his family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.