Jimmie Frantz Keathly Sr. was born on September 4, 1940 in Winston Salem, North Carolina to Frantz Lee and Anna Irene Keathly. His family moved from Oklahoma to Louisiana with Continental Oil in the 1950s. He graduated in 1958 from high school and attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He married Wanda Dawson Keathly, whose family was also transferred to Louisiana with Conoco. They grew up across the street from each other and celebrated 60 years of marriage on December 27, 2021.

Jim was graduated in 1962 and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was trained as a pilot in ROTC and served in the U.S. Army for 3 years, half of which he served in the 220th Aviation Company as a Forward Air Controller in Viet Nam. He received the flight medal with 9 oak leaf clusters for Meritorious Service and the Navy Commendation Medal.

Jim was an avid reader and over the years, his interests changed from woodworking to camping and fishing with the family to vegetable gardening and flowers.

He was an active member of the Heights Church in Richardson, Tx, an ordained Deacon and his faith and church meant a great deal to him.

When he returned from Viet Nam, he went to work for Texas Instruments in Dallas, Tx. He worked for them for 25 years and then accepted a position with Harris Semiconductor in Melbourne, FL; then Photonics, Allen, Tx 10 yrs. and Micropac, Garland, Tx 10 yrs. He continued consulting for Micropac until about a year ago.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather.

He is survived by his wife, Wanda; two sons, Jimmie Jr and his wife Jeni, Chris and his wife Lisa, 6 grandchildren Chelsea, Trenton, Jared, Grace, Abby and Olivia; his stepsister Sue Allen, and stepbrother Ken Philpott and dear extended family Bill Dawson and family and Linda Dawson Gill and family. He was loved by all who knew him and he will be missed. Burial will be in the Veterans Cemetery in Houston, Texas on March 4, 2021 and Celebration of Life will be at the Heights Church on March 23, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.