James Keyes Aton M.D. Jr.

1933 - 2017

James Keyes Aton, Jr. MD, Jim, Dad, Poppy of Atlanta, GA departed this life at his residence on 20 January 2017 due to complications from Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was 83. He was born 13 February 1933 in St. Petersburg, FL. His parents were the late James Keyes Aton, Sr. and the late May Griffith Aton. He was married to the late Margaret Joan Hall Aton for 49 years before her passing on 21 January 2005. He attended the University of Florida 1950 - 1952, Emory University, Bachelor of Arts, 1952 - 1954, University of Maryland, Doctor of Medicine, 1954 - 1958, Medical College of South Carolina, Internship, 1958 - 1959, and University of Maryland, Dermatology Residency, 1959 - 1962.

Dr. Aton retired at the rank of Colonel in the Medical Corps, United States Army. He served our country for 20 years. He held numerous posts. He was Corps Physician at McDonald Army Hospital, Ft. Eustis, VA, 1968-1969, Chief Resident at Letterman Army Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 1969-1970. He was the Chief of Dermatology at 95th Evac Hospital, Da Nang, Vietnam, 1970-1971, McDonald Army Hospital, Ft. Eustis, VA, 1971-1974, and Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, GA, 1974-1988.

After retiring from the military, Dr. Aton practiced Medicine as a Staff Physician of Dermatology at Eisenhower Medical Center, Fort Gordon, GA 1988 - 2007, Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center of Augusta, Ga 1995 - 2007, Medical Center System, Martinez, GA 1995 - 2007. Dr. Aton was Consultant in Dermatology at the Augusta Medical Correctional Institution, Augusta, GA 1989 - 2007, and at the Columbia Augusta Medical Center, Augusta, GA 1988 - 2007. He was an Associate Professor of Dermatology, Advisor and Clinical Instructor at the Medical College of Georgia, 1981, 1989-1990.

Jim Aton achieved the following Licensures throughout his military and private career. State of Maryland, 1958, State of Georgia, 1978, and the American Board of Dermatology, 1971 - 2007. He was appointed to the Veterans Administration Staff, Baltimore, MD, 1966 - 1967. He had the following research affiliations: Medical Parameters, Martinez, GA 1995 - 2007, Principal Investigator, Chronic Plaque Psoriasis, 2000, Principal Investigator, Chronic Plaque Psoriasis, 2001, Principal Investigator, Chronic Plaque Psoriasis, 2002 and was Co-Investigator, Tinea Capitis, 2002-2003. He had the following honors & awards: Army Surgeon General's "A" Professional Designator - May 1978, Army Surgeon General's "8B" Outstanding Performance in Operational Medicine - October 1981, and the American Academy of Dermatology, Continuing Medical Education Award, 1984 - 1987. He received the Legion of Merit in June 1988 and he was a member of VFW, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Jim was a dedicated and loyal member of the following organizations: American Board of Dermatology, 1971 - 2007, Diplomate, American Board of Dermatology, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Georgia Dermatology Society, Richmond County Medical Society, and he was the Augusta Dermatology Society, President for the years 1984 - 1985. He was published in 14 different medical periodicals & medical journals from 1961 to 1986.

Deacon Aton had many close personal interests. He was a deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia and he was ordained in 1988. He was one of the co-founders of St. Stephen's Ministry, 1990. He was a well known and loved Philatelist and member of the Stamp Club of Augusta, GA.

His survivors include four children with spouses: Keyes & Barbara Aton, Dallas, TX; Herb and Caroline Aton, Charleston, SC; Randi Aton & Carolyn Quave, Atlanta, GA; and Tracy & Bill Quillian, Raleigh, NC. He had and he dearly loved ten (10) grandchildren: Alex Aton Lebrija, Dallas, TX; Emily Aton Salazar, Charleston, SC; James K Aton IV, Charleston, SC; Ben Aton, Portland, OR; Maggie Aton St. John, Charleston, SC; Cary Quillian, Greensboro, NC; Bret Aton, Marseille, FR; Randall Quillian, Baltimore, MD; Aubry Quillian, Raleigh, NC; Emory Quillian, Raleigh, NC. He was also the proud great-grandfather of two great-grandchildren, Duke St. John of Charleston, SC, and Meech Lebrija of Dallas, TX. Jim is also survived by his companion of 10 years Ann Jones, Atlanta, GA.

The service will be Monday February 13, 2017 at 11:00am at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, 3321 Wheeler Rd, Augusta, GA 30909 with the Reverend James T. Said leading. The burial will be following the service in the Prayer Garden. Following the burial, a celebration and reception will be held in the Fellowship Hall. The family suggests memorials to be tax deductible donations to St. Stephen's Ministry of Augusta, Inc. 922 Green St. Augusta, GA 30901.

To his four children and ten grandchildren, Dad ("Poppy" to the grandkids) is a man of many colors. Pink for the love and tenderness that he always displays...blue for the rivers, lakes and oceans he helped us discover and appreciate while being the helm of the family boat. Yellow is for the sunshine that always follows him...orange for those "Florida Gators". He is a man of many colors...red for the heart he has always given without a care...white for the curing and healing of patients in strife, a healer of body and soul. Gold is for the ultimate color we use to describe our Dad...saintly, peaceful, angelic qualities we all hope to have. He is a man of many colors...our Dad.

We love him.

Keyes, Herb, Randi and Tracy.

~~The Augusta Chronicle--February 5, 2017