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KEATON -- James Thomas Keaton, 83, died Wednesday, December 26, 2007 at his home. A resident of Albuquerque for thirty years, he is survived by his beloved wife of ten years, Marla Parks Keaton. Mr. Keaton was born on November 23, 1924 in Milan, Tennessee to George and Mary Keaton and migrated to Winslow, Arizona in 1937 where his father found work with the Santa Fe Railroad. After graduating from Winslow High School in 1942, Mr. Keaton joined the US Navy, serving proudly during WWII as a radio operator and gunner in the South Pacific. He received a degree in political science from California State Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo, California in 1951, joining the FBI upon graduation where he worked until 1956 when he accepted a position with General Motor's Oldsmobile Division in Lansing, Michigan. Over the course of his thirty-year career with GM, Mr. Keaton, an expert in personnel and labor relations, held numerous management positions, retiring in 1977. While in Albuquerque, Mr. Keaton launched a second career, serving as Personnel Director at the University of New Mexico Hospital from 1977 until 1989. During retirement he enjoyed golf as a member of the Tanoan Country Club and the Rotary and served on the New Mexico State Labor Relations Board from 1993 to 1996. Mr. Keaton was preceded in death by former wife Lora Smith Keaton in 1996. Other survivors include two children, James T. Keaton, Jr. and wife, Karen of Peoria, Arizona and Kathryn L. McLain and husband, Larry of Chicago, Illinois; two step-children, Cindy Bullington and husband, Robert of Phoenix, Arizona and Mike Smith and wife, Lynda also of Arizona; four grandchildren, Jennifer Keaton, Kristeen McLain, Erin McLain, Matthew McLain and wife, Lucy; four step-grandchildren Bobby, Catherine and Susan Bullington and Nick, Tim, and Sarah Smith; and, three great-grandchildren, Hazel, Myles, and Elsie McLain. Also among survivors are two brothers, Robert H. Keaton and wife, Cathryn of Apple Valley, California and Bill Keaton and wife, Lee of Tucson, Arizona. A Memorial Service to celebrate Mr. Keaton's life is scheduled for Wednesday, January 2, 2008, 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 215 Locust, NE. Memorial contributions may be made to All Faiths Receiving Home, 1709 Moon Street, NE, 87112, or the American Lung Association of NM, 7001 Menaul Blvd. NE, Suite 1-A, 87110. French Mortuary, Inc. 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400 www.frenchmortuary.com
        Published on: Tue January 01, 2008