Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 04:56:32 :
Marin Independent Journal
Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002
Mortuary scion dies in San Rafael
By Keri Brenner
Frank J. Keaton, the leader of one of Marin's longest-running and best-known funeral homes and a former Marin County coroner, died Sunday at his home in San Rafael. He was 90.
Keaton, who worked up until the day before he died, was successful because he "loved to take care of people, and loved to serve people," said Ron Henderson, the manager of Keaton's Mortuary at 1022 E St. in San Rafael, who worked with Keaton for 25 years. "Making funeral arrangements and directing funerals - that was his passion."
Henderson said Keaton left a legacy of high standards of public service that will continue to inspire him and others in the business, which has operated in Marin for more than 75 years.
"He was very genuine, he really enjoyed people and he knew how to help people who were grieving," Henderson said. "If I can maintain that same zest as long as he did, I will consider myself lucky."
Before his death, Keaton was the oldest surviving past president of the California Funeral Directors Association, which he led in 1949, said Ron Hast of Tiburon, a longtime business associate who produces two national funeral trade publications.
"He has been the guiding light to many young people who found interest in this field of service," said Hast, who moved to Marin nine years ago from Southern California on Keaton's recommendation. "Whatever he was involved in, he was always fully supportive - not as a sideliner, but always out in front."
Born in San Rafael, Keaton succeeded his father, the late J. Ray Keaton, in the funeral business and as Marin County coroner. The elder Keaton was coroner, public administrator and public guardian for 30 years, while Frank Keaton held the same jobs for 16 years in the 1950s and 1960s.
His father and mother, the late Margaret Whitemore Keaton, started the business in 1920 at Fourth and E streets in San Rafael. They moved to the current location, a block away, in 1924.
Frank Keaton, a San Rafael High School graduate, helped his father run funerals as a teen, later taking over the business in partnership with his brother, the late Harold Keaton.
"He was taking funerals across the bay on ferries, before the Golden Gate Bridge was built," Hast said. "He used to call ahead of time and ask them to hold the ferry."
During World War II, Keaton served in the U.S. Army's 30th Infantry Division, receiving a Silver Star for his efforts during a patrol in advance of D-Day. He also received a Bronze Star, two Oak Leaf Clusters, a Purple Heart and The Battle of the Bulge Honor of Distinction.
In 2000, he was active in the movement to build a World War II memorial monument on the Avenue of the Flags near the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael. The finished monument was unveiled this past Memorial Day.
The Keaton brothers owned and ran the Keaton mortuary business for four decades until 1989, when they sold it to the Alderwoods Group, formerly the Loewen Group, a funeral home corporation based in Canada. Keaton's Mortuary, which now has 16 employees and a second location in Novato, continued to operate under the new ownership.
Frank Keaton stayed active for the next decade and a half, despite a worsening diabetes condition and heart disease.
"He was still driving hearses a week or two ago," Hast said.
In addition to his work as coroner and as president of the state funeral directors association, Keaton was a past president of the Redwood Empire Funeral Director Association, the Marin County Peace Officers Association and the California Coroners Association.
He also was active in the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Marin Easter Seals Society, Serra Club of Marin, Y.M.I of Marin #10, the 30th Division Infantry National Association, the Golden State chapter of the B.P.O. Elks #1108, U.A.O. Druids Novato Grove 113, American Legion Post #37, V.F.W. #72, Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Association, Sea Point Parlor N.S.G.W. Board of Directors, Salvation Army and Birthright of Marin.
Keaton is survived by his wife of 49 years, Katherine S. Keaton; his children, Paul Due Bell, Peter Jackson Bell and Kathryn Martin; and his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Anselm's Church at Bolinas Avenue and Shady Lane in Ross. A vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the church.
Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in San Rafael.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice or to the 30th Infantry Division Scholarship Fund in care of Keaton's Mortuary.
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