Martha Keeton

Martha Evans Keeton, 73, passed away at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo on Wednesday, July 22, 2020. Born September 8, 1946, in Vardaman, she was the daughter of the late Harvey Lee Evans and the late Evelyn Steelman Evans. She attended Vardaman High School, and was a member of College Hill Baptist Church. In 1965, she married Rudell Keeton, and they spent 33 wonderful years together until his passing in 1998. She was retired after owning and managing the family business for many years with her husband. She absolutely loved fishing. Martha and Rudell would make countless trips to the lake where they enjoyed crappie fishing and boating, even making the cover of The Tenn-Tom Sportsman magazine with one of their catches. She also loved to read and work in her garden, nurturing her many beautiful flowers. Above all, she loved her family, especially her grandkids and great-grandkids. They filled her life with joy, and she left them with memories to cherish for a lifetime. Pryor Funeral Home has the honor of serving the Keeton family. A funeral service celebrating her life will be held on Friday, July 24, 2020, at 2:00pm at Pryor Funeral Home. There will also be a visitation time with the family on Friday from 12:00pm until service time at the funeral home. Bro. Danny Spratlin will be officiating, with interment to follow at New Gauley Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mike Beasley, Michael Keeton, Dustin Keeton, Jason Keeton, Jacob Hanson, and Frankie Lofton. She leaves behind her son, David Keeton and his wife Barbie of Calhoun City; brother, Rickey Evans of Jackson; grandchildren, Michael (Debra) Keeton of Medina, TN, Dustin Keeton of Calhoun City, Jason Keeton of Jackson, TN, Kristen (Jacob) Hanson of Columbus, and Susan Keeton of Starkville. She was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Hudson Keeton and Harrison Keeton. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Rudell Keeton; son, Tony Keeton; daughter, Tina Keeton; sister, Joy Lofton; and brothers, James Evans and Harvey Evans. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Expressions of sympathy may be left for the family at pryorfuneralhome.com. Pryor Funeral Home takes the health of our staff, our families, our visitors, and our community very seriously, and we are adhering to guidelines set forth by President Trump and Gov. Tate Reeves. At this time, we are asking everyone to support the limited gathering and visitation policy set by our government officials. We will be allowing small family groups and limiting the number of people in family rooms to 10 at one time at visitations, as well as funerals at the funeral home. For graveside services, we will be asking everyone to also comply with the required social distancing space of six feet. We’re also advising against hand-shaking, hugging, kissing and other intimate contact, and encourage the use of face masks