Fred Keeton

Fred was a country boy growing up in the hills of Kentucky. From his humbled beginnings he decided there
must be something better and joined the Army in 1958. He served in Germany during the Berlin Crisis and
credits joining the Army to being one of his best decisions. He said it helped him prepare for the next phase
of life and often stated how it was an honor to serve his country. He was a proud American! In his opinion
he was living in an era that was the best our nation has to offer.
Fred landed a job with Chrysler Airtemp where he worked about 11 years. During that time he said it was
the most boring job and looked for a reason to move on. He then started his own construction company,
Keeton Construction. While on a job he hired Simpson Floor Sanding, Mr. Simpson said he knew of a
contractor (Scholten Construction) that was looking for someone with a good work ethic and experience
and asked Fred to please give them a call. Scholten Construction was owned at the time by Russ Hardin and
Robert Scholten. Thru long hours and a lot of work he purchased half of the company from Russ Hardin and
then Robert Scholten, who had been the original owner. Many years later he retired and walked away
leaving the company in the hands of Rick Cox and Doug Eaton, who had been dedicated employees. He was
known by some as Mr. Scholten, no reason to clarify.
Fred was a very talented individual especially where wood was involved. As a wood builder, he was a
perfectionist and needed to see progress or results so that at the end of the day he could say and feel that
he had done his best. By no means was he a slacker, promptness was of major importance. He gave advice
to many. He enjoyed his work so much that he never felt like he worked a day in his life.
He was an outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting. He also loved history and reading. Names were no
big deal, he was all about the family.
He leaves to mourn his wife, Marcella Skaggs Keeton, of 59 years; a son Christopher J. Keeton, whom he
was very proud of; and blessed with two grandchildren, Ayleen Keeton and Aaron Keeton; and a very dear
friend Teresa Smith.
We are sure he was welcomed in heaven by lots of family and friends including his parents, a brother and
sister, the daughter he never had Melissa Lawson, and two nephews Frankie Keeton and Heath Ferguson.
Surviving family are one brother-in-law Denzil Ball; two sisters in law Norma Smith and Julia Ferguson;
nieces Penelope and Farrell Whitt, Rhonda Keeton, Johnda and Shawn Cantrell, Yolanda and Donny Vance,
Melinda and Ivan Perry; nephews Jeffery and Donna Ball, Neil Ball, Sheldon and Shelley Smith, Mel and
Patti Smith; and several grand nieces and nephews. Special People to whom he loved and cherished were
Raleigh and Elva Jenkins, Dorothy Howard, Mamie Garett, Buford and Blanche Wright, Anita Laney, Alex
Johnson, Wendy Jackson, Regina and Mark Long, Cherie Rebar, McKenzie Winblad, Summer Watts and all
the loving people at Hospice; several neighbors that have been there for us over many years and certainly
all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
He was a member of the First Dayton Free Will Baptist Church, where he served as a board member and
head trustee. He was a Mason and member of the Masonic body of St John’s lodge #13; Raleigh Jenkins
will perform the Masonic memorial service. He also belonged to the Antioch Temple of Dayton, the
Valley of Dayton Scottish Rite, was a Dayton Dragons season ticket holder, and charter member of
Waterscape Aquafarm & Sport Fishing Club.
Fred will certainly be missed and is irreplaceable.