Leece “Barnard” Keeton, 93, of Hewitt, passed away at a local nursing home on Monday, June 1, 2026.

Barnard was born April 8, 1933 near Guntersville, Alabama to Kate Barnard Keeton and Leece Tyler Keeton. He grew up working on farms with his older brother and best friend, Don. Life was hard, but they were surrounded by a large community of family and friends.

In 1950, when he was 18 years old, his mother died of cancer. Devastated, he hit rock bottom and may not have recovered if it weren’t for the care of his Aunt Elizabeth and other relatives. He spent many hours hunting arrowheads with his Uncle Percy on the banks of the Tennessee River. His personality was quiet and amiable, never judging, with a colorful mastery of the 20th century southeastern American vernacular.

He graduated from Marshall County High School in Guntersville, Alabama, and attended Snead Junior College. Shortly thereafter, Barnard was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served two years in Japan. He recalls that he would never have chosen that path, but says those years turned out to be among the best in his life.

After being honorably discharged, he worked at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. During this time he met and married Elizabeth “Faye” Hampton and the two moved to Florida where they both had impressive careers with NASA. Barnard’s job was in logistics during the height of the space shuttle program. The two lived happily until Faye’s death in 2015. He then moved to Texas to be closer to his brother Don and his niece Robin. He and Don spent many afternoons solving the world’s problems in their conversations.

Barnard enjoyed staying home reading westerns and mysteries, doing Sudoku, and most recently, watching old movies and jazz concerts on YouTube.

Barnard was preceded in death by his wife Faye and his brother Don. He leaves behind two nephews, Joe Keeton and Ken Keeton; one niece, Robin Keeton Brady; their families, and several cousins.

No services are planned.

Thank you to the wonderful staff at St. Anthony’s Care Center, Dr. Nick Schwedock, and the team at Bluebonnet Hospice. The family would also like to thank Elaine Carrington at CB&T Waco for all her help over the years.