Donald Keith

Donald L. Keith, 78, of Jackson died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2004, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born March 8, 1925, in Roaring Springs, Pa., son of Roy and Josephine Raugh Keith. He and Ella Dee Martin were married in 1950 in Paragould, Ark.

Keith served with the U.S. Navy during World War II in the European, North African and Asiatic Pacific Theaters.

He was a member of First Baptist Church, Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson, VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau, and was an honorary member of IBEW Local 702 in West Frankfort, Ill. He was also a member of Excelsior Masonic Lodge 441 in Jackson, 32nd Degree Scottish Rite, Order of Eastern Star, and Sword of Bunker Hill.

Keith was a journeyman lineman with Missouri Utilities Co. from 1952 to 1963, and a business representative for IBEW Local 702 from 1963 until retiring in 1988.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Dennis M. Keith and wife Jeanne of Jackson; two grandchildren, Kristina Keith of Savannah, Ga., David Keith of Jackson; two stepgrandchildren, Melissa Craft and Danielle Seabaugh of Jackson; two great-stepgrandchildren, Austin Seabaugh and Caleb Craft of Jackson; and a half brother, Richard Weitzel of Utah.

He was preceded in death by two half sisters.

Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday. A Masonic service will be held at 7.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Carter Frey officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery, with military honors to be conducted.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to First Baptist Church of Jackson or National Kidney Foundation.