Mark Stanley Keating

JASPER Mark Stanley Keating, MD, age 58, passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama.

He was born on January 14, 1954, in Gordo, Alabama, to Hill Franklin and Willodene Thornton Keating. He grew up on the family farm and learned the meaning of hard work by growing cotton and raising beef cattle and broiler chickens. He graduated from Pickens County High School in Reform in 1972 as valedictorian of his class and president of the student body. He graduated from The University of Alabama with a B.S. degree in 1976 and a M.S. degree in Microbiology in 1978. During the summers of 1977 and 1978, Mark worked as the Youth Corps Coordinator for the CETA Program in Pickens County. While working with many underprivileged teenagers in this program, he became determined to follow his lifelong dream of becoming a family physician. He received his Medical Degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in 1982. Dr. Keating completed his Residency with the U.S.A. Department of Family Practice in 1985 and served as Chief Resident in his third year. Upon completion of his Residency in Family Practice, he continued his training at U.S.A. and was the first physician to complete Advanced Obstetrics Training for Family Practice. After spending a year as an attending assistant professor at the University of South Alabama, the perfect career opportunity presented itself in Jasper. Dr. Keating and his wife, Sabrina, moved to Jasper in 1986. For the last 26 years, Dr. Keating has practiced medicine in the business of Family Health Associates in Jasper, which also operates a satellite clinic in Double Springs. His calm and humble demeanor endeared him to both his staff and his patients. His favorite phrase, “Here to serve,” beautifully describes his daily walk in both his professional and his personal life.

He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Medical Association of The State of Alabama, and The American Academy of Family Physicians, where he served the Alabama Chapter as a director for eight years and as president in 2006-2007.

When Mark wasn't hard at work caring for his patients, he loved spending time with his family and friends, traveling, cycling, spending time on Smith Lake, and, of course, supporting his Crimson Tide sports teams, having been a member of “Tide Pride” for over 20 years.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Jasper, where he attended the Friendship Sunday School Class. He served the church in many roles, including past Chairman of the Administrative Board and as a member of the Staff Parish Relations Committee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hill Franklin and Willodene Thornton Keating, as well as a beloved brother-in-law, Floyd Lee Shelton, and a beloved sister-in-law, Mahaska Skelton.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Sabrina Skelton Keating, and his loving children, Robert Hill Keating and Rebecca Leigh-Ann Keating. He is also survived by his brothers, Paul Franklin Keating (Teresa) of Marion, North Carolina, James Hill “Jim” Keating (Betty) of Palmetto, and Thomas Elisha “Tom” Keating (Shirin) of Cumming, Georgia; father and mother-in-law, William Bruce and Kate Dyer Skelton of Palmetto; sisters-in-law, Meta Skelton Criswell (Frank) of Reform, and Yoma Skelton Shelton of Dallas, Georgia; as well as nieces and nephews, Tiffany Suzanne Hall (Russell), April Victoria Westmoreland (Neil), Brittany Leigh Keating, James Hill Keating, II (Ashley), Shayon Thomas Keating, Meena Nicole Keating, Berkley Jade Criswell, William Addison Criswell, and Meredith Lee Shelton; and five great-nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Sunday, March 4, 2012, at Jasper First United Methodist Church with Rev. Alan Beasley officiating and Rev. Tex Ergle assisting. For those unable to attend, there will be a live telecast of the service on the church's web site at www.fumcjasper.com. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00 preceding the service. Burial will be at the Walker Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Matt Dyer, Joel Hagood, Jeremy Guthrie, Henry Allred, Dave Chandler, Bly Panter, Craig Beard, Mike Tubbs, Jordan Phillips and Jacob Phillips.

Honorary pallbearers are the employees of Family Health Associates.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the newly established Mark S. Keating, M.D., Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o The University of Alabama National Alumni Association, P.O. Box 861928, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486, which will benefit rural Alabama students interested in studying medicine; to First United Methodist Church of Jasper; to Walker Area Community Foundation Hope Clinic Fund; or to a charity of one's choice.

Kilgore-Green Funeral Home of Jasper is in charge of arrangements.