YZ Keaton

Y.Z. Keaton, 78 years wise, was born February 25, 1943 to the late Isom Sr. and Lunie Lee Jennings Keaton in Crockets Bluff, Arkansas. He attended school at Poplar Creek in Crocketts Bluff, Arkansas and Immanuel in Almyra, Arkansas. Y.Z. began working on the farm at the age of ten years old. He worked there as a teenager, until he was drafted into the military by the United States Army in 1965. Y.Z.’s time after the military was spent working on cars.

He was united in holy matrimony to Luevenia Powell on January 20, 1968. He was raised in church at Poplar Creek in Crocketts Bluff under the leadership of the late Reverend Anderson. After marriage, Y.Z. and Luevenia joined Allen Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Stuttgart, Arkansas, under the leadership of the late Reverend G.H. Wade and currently under Reverend Gilbert Byrd, Jr. In addition, he served on the usher board.

Y.Z. was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He was known to his brothers-in-law and friends as “Keaton”, his children as “Daddy”, his siblings as “Y”, and his grands as “Grandpa” and ‘PawPaw”. He loved drag racing, fishing, and hunting. Being that his favorite color was black, he surprised his wife Luevenia when he painted a pickup truck bright yellow. He was known around Stuttgart for the van he painted black that resembled the “The A Team” van. Y.Z. was the sibling, father and friend that took care of everyone. He loved driving, and many times drove his siblings and family to appointments, family events and funerals both out of town or state.

When his children were younger, he built many bikes and a special “dune buggy”, which they rode up and down West Washington Street, until his sons Orlando and Demarcus ran into their neighbor Raymond Rogers’ car. Y.Z. repaired Raymond’s taillight but retired the go-cart. He spent his time taking care of his wife and children, chauffeuring them to and from school to extracurricular activities and other school events and appointments. Later he began driving them to and from jobs and college. When the children became parents of their own, the grands spent their summers in Stuttgart with Y.Z. and Luevenia. He always took them to the store for treats and toys.

Y.Z. Keaton transitioned to his Heavenly home on the afternoon of Thursday, December 9, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents Isom Sr. and Lunie; two sons Orlando Keaton and Demarcus Keaton; five brothers Isom Keaton, Jr., Esper Keaton, Glisper Keaton, YC Keaton, and IZ Keaton; and six sisters Zelma Murphy, Emma Lee Whitfield, Maetta Stigger, Arzine Hatch, Arlene Keaton, and Paulene Earls.

Y.Z.’s legacy and memories will forever imprint in the minds and hearts of his wife of 53 years Luevenia Powell Keaton; three daughters Beverly Powell Edwards of Pine Bluff, AR, Felicia Powell Thompkins (Raymond) of Whites Creek, TN, and Donna Keaton Wilchie (Tyrone) of Conway, AR; one son Dion Keaton (Monica) of Hendersonville, TN; a daughter-in-law Cynthia Nevils Keaton of Madison, TN; grandchildren Triston Thompkins (April), Trent Thompkins, Lacy Mack, Morgan Keaton, Demarcus Keaton, Antwanette Wilchie, and Cameron Keaton; great grandchildren Alena Thompkins, Mayla Thompkins, and Layson Mack; siblings Virease Keaton Bowe (Otho) and Elbert Keaton (Zenola), both of Cleveland, OH; many nephews, nieces, a host of cousins, relatives, and friends.

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