David Michael Keeton
1949-2018
David Keeton was a gifted athlete, a football player who had crowds marveling as he streaked down the field. To see him carry the football was like watching human lightning, he was so quick and effortless in his motion. A star first in Houston at T. H. Rogers Middle School, later at Robert E. Lee High School and ultimately as a freshman at the University of Texas, David seemed destined for more gridiron glories when knee injuries and operations hobbled his future play. Even so, he was proud to be part of the University of Texas squad in 1969 that won college football's national championship.
After graduating from the University of Texas, David continued a lifelong fascination with athletics and followed closely the ups and downs of his beloved Longhorns, knowing minute details about the players and their statistics, keeping up not only with football, but also other sports. In his later years, David participated in senior athletic contests and in the Rock Steady (non-contact) Boxing exercise program. As was true throughout his life, whenever David won a medal, a trophy or was singled out for excellence, he lowered his head, shrugged his shoulders and modestly proclaimed that winning was no big deal. He just enjoyed participating. Indeed, he had a well-deserved reputation as a gentleman, always quiet, frequently helping others.
David worked in various fields, holding positions as a hospital emergency room assistant, in medical laboratories, and as a middle-school teacher. Whatever occupation he pursued, he maintained an avid interest in investing. He studied markets and corporations closely and was eventually able to work full-time as a private investor.
David participated in many hobbies over the years, including surfing, scuba diving, sailing, amateur radio and playing electric guitar. He also enjoyed being around children and animals, and they often seemed to sense that he was gentle and could be trusted.
Family poker games proved to be among his favorite pastimes. David crouched over his cards with a mischievous grin so it was impossible to tell whether he was enjoying a private joke or savoring a winning hand. Inevitably, when the games began to wind down late at night, David, still inscrutable, began upping the stakes, eventually betting all his chips on cards that could be good or awful. Those final hands, with only plastic chips and never any money at risk, had all the drama of go-for-broke casino matches and inevitably ended in laughter and good feelings among David's family, whom he loved deeply.
David died in Austin after a series of heart attacks on January 23 at the age of 68. Born in 1949 in Houston, to the late Florence (Rusty) Keeton and the late Ernest (Buster) Richard Keeton, David also had a caring stepfather, R. M. Don Garrison, who also predeceased him.
David is greatly missed by his family that includes brother, Rick Keeton (Sharyn Kane) two sisters, Bonnie Coffman (Mark) and Robbie Lowrey (Jim), their children, Allison Stasney (Spencer), Eddy Blanton, Jr. (Meghan), Michael Coffman (Sarah), Rob Coffman and their eight grandchildren.
The family will hold a private memorial service and asks that anyone wishing to remember David send condolences to The Keeton Family, P.O. Box 268, 5773 Woodway Drive, Houston, TX 77057. Donations are welcome to the , 10060 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77054.