Dr. William McClure Keeling

Keeling, Dr. William McClure, age 91, died January 5, 2015, at The Plaza at Edgemere in Dallas, TX. He was born to Marguerite McClure Keeling and James Henry Keeling, MD, on February 15, 1923, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He and his sister Jennie D. grew up on Temple Avenue within sight and sound of the University of Tennessee, surrounded by family. He attended Mrs. Thackston’s School, Staub School, Tyson Junior High School, Knoxville High School, and the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He was a 1946 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis and a member of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity. He completed his internship in Ann Arbor, MI, and his Residency in General Surgery at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu, HI. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the International College of Surgeons. He met Nancy Jane Haston of McMinnville at a UT party, and they married in September, 1946. In the military for fourteen years before returning to Knoxville, he was a third generation physician, who established a private practice there, as his father and grandfather had before him. He was also an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Tennessee Memorial Hospital. In 1970, feeling it a duty to his country, he re-entered the US Army in order to serve in the Vietnam war. He was Commander of the 18th Surgical Hospital at Quang Tri, supporting combat action near the North Viet Nam border. For his leadership under extreme conditions there, he was awarded the Bronze Star. Also awarded the Legion of Merit, he retired from the Army as a Colonel and remained a fervent advocate for veterans by serving as a surgeon and physician in the Veterans Administration in Salisbury and Winston-Salem, NC. In Winston-Salem he was a faculty member of the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest. He moved to be near his daughter Jane in Dallas, where he lived for five happy years as a resident of the Plaza at Edgemere. He was delighted to make friends with the other residents, and he often mentioned his appreciation of Edgemere’s activities, care, and kind staff. He said that outside of family, he was most strongly influenced by his Boy Scout training and experience and by the character and ideals of UT Volunteers coach General Robert Neyland. He was an avid Vols football fan and took great pleasure in recalling his Uncle Bill McClure’s exploits as a Vol in 1912, 13, and 15. He also had much fun remembering his Uncle Bob McClure, 1929 Head Football Manager, clattering down the stairs at Temple Avenue, racing to get to the stadium on time. Without really thinking about it, he filled his life and the lives of his children with music. He sang badly and was good natured when teased for not being able to carry a tune in a bucket. He had a nice touch at the piano, cheerfully playing and singing college fight songs, Christmas carols, and popular tunes of his time. Big Band was his favorite. His school marching band instrument was trumpet. As an adult he taught himself to play harmonica and accordion. He was a scholar of history, knowledgeable about ancient Rome, military history, and the Civil War. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution and Sons of the Confederacy. He retained a huge store of poetry in his mind. Until he died, he could quote long passages, famous and obscure, serious and silly. His whimsical sense of humor kept his family and companions well entertained. As his mother did for him and his sister, he read aloud to his family. Surrounding himself with books, he imbued his children with that same love of books and literature, and it has passed down to his grandchildren. He enjoyed exploring the world and was widely traveled. He was a licensed small plane pilot, and he fulfilled a dream when he took up parachuting at the age of 65. Photography and darkroom work were special interests. He was a marathon runner who completed the Boston Marathon four times. A devout Episcopalian, he was a longtime member of St. John’s Cathedral in Knoxville. In Dallas he was a member of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. He said his upbringing was idyllic, and he cherished his Knoxville memories for the rest of his life. No matter where he lived, he called Knoxville Home. Preceded in death by his wife Nancy Haston Keeling, he is survived by his children Jane Toler and her husband Dwayne of Dallas, James Henry Keeling III and his wife Susan of Jacksonville, FL, and Rebecca Broyles and her husband Paul of Princeton, WV; his grandchildren and step-grandchildren, of whom he was immensely proud, Peyton Keeling and his wife Hilary of Gainesville, FL, Brett Keeling of Austin, TX, Paul A. Broyles III and his wife Amanda of Charlottesville, VA, Rachel Toler of Chicago, IL, and Lauren Toler of Santa Ana, CA; his sister and brother-in-law Jennie Dickerson Keeling and Randolph Mansfield of Knoxville, TN; his brother-in-law Charles D. Haston of McMinnville, TN; his cousins Nona McClure Platillero, Wallace McClure, Elizabeth McClure, of Knoxville, TN, and Robin McClure of Social Circle, GA; his nieces and nephews Keeling Christiansen of Cordova, TN, Laura Spica of Knoxville, TN, Randolph Mansfield Jr. of Jacksonville, FL, and Charles D. Haston Jr. of McMinnville, TN; and his loving caregivers Joan Smith, Mary Hill, Jerlene Parker, and Rosemary Njuguna, all of Dallas. A funeral service will be held 10:30 AM Saturday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel with The Reverend Cannon Chris Hackett officiating. Interment to follow at Highland Memorial Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to www.rosemortuary.com. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Friday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.

Tributes

Dr. William McClure Keeling

February 15, 1923 - January 5, 2015