Mr. John Carl Keaton Sr.

August 14, 1937 - January 8, 2022

John Carl Keaton, Sr. was born on August 14, 1937, and passed from this life on January 8, 2022, at the age of 84. He was the oldest of seven children born to John Bunyan and Nettie Brown Keaton of DeWitt. John Carl married Shirley Lee Ann Wood on December 14, 1958. Together, they had six children. They were married twelve years until her death. On April 28, 1978, he married Bonnie Lee Kittler and they were married for 38 years. Together, they had one son. He was a member of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn. He loved hunting, fishing, raising hogs and chickens, and his special horse, Sunshine. John was a hardworking man with many talents. He worked as a welder, he bailed hay, logged, and surveyed rice and soybean fields. Life changed for him in 1996 after his heart attack. It slowed him down for a while, but as time went on he regained his strength and began gardening, which became a great passion of his. He always had one of the best gardens. He was known around DeWitt for his delicious blackberries and tomatoes. John Carl is preceded in death by his parents, John and Nettie Keaton, his wife Shirley and his wife Bonnie, and one son, Justin Lee Keaton, one brother, CW Keaton, three sisters, Yvonne Byers, Nettie Jane Ward, and Christine Ward. He is survived by his children, Lynnette Saunders and husband Van of Heber Springs, Priscilla Bennett and husband Charles, Johnny Keaton, Karla Fox and husband Ricky, and Barbara Keaton all of DeWitt, Chris Keaton of Proctor AR, and Travis Fisher of DeWitt; seventeen grandchildren, thirty-two great-grandchildren, one brother, Tommy Keaton and one sister, Linda Gosa of DeWitt. John lived a full life and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Visitation will be 6-8:00 p.m. January 11 at Essex Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. January 12 at Essex Funeral Home with burial in Crocketts Bluff Cemetery.