Gene E. Keeton, 84, died on December 13, 2012, from congestive heart failure and complications from diabetes. He was born April 22, 1928, at Hugo, OK, to the late Scott and Hattie (Mitchell) Keeton.
He attended elementary school in Lawrence County, Hopewell, and Stott’s City, MO, Afton, OK, Fairbanks in Springfield, 3 years at Pipkin, 2 years at Senior High, and 2 summers at Greenwood. Gene served in the Army 1946-1947, attaining the rank of T/4. He graduated from Office Appliance Mechanical Institute in 1949, the top of his class, and then accepted a job with R.C. Allen Business Machine, Inc., in Dallas, TX. In 1951 he returned to Springfield to work at Ajax Pipeline Pump Station, east of Ebenezer, part-time later bidding on a job at Wentzville, MO as engineer at their electric pump station where he worked until Ajax sold in June 1954.
Gene married Mary A. Woods on May 21, 1953. They moved back to Springfield and Gene went to work for City Utilities in January 1955 as a bus operator, driving for 14 ½ years. Gene was promoted to supervisor in 1969 and retired in February 1997 after 42 years of service.
He was a member of Johnson & Dale and the Kansas Expressway Church of Christ. Gene owned and operated rental property from 1960 to 2005, and was a collector of vintage cars and clocks.
Survivors include his wife, Mary of 59 years; his little Boston Terrier Bulldog, Kale; good friend, Rosemary; brother, Bill Keeton and family; and Steve.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 18, 2012, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North. Burial will follow in Hazelwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, December 17, in the funeral home.