WARSAW – James Thomas “Jim” Keith, at 64, watched his final episode of "Gunsmoke" Wednesday, June 15, 2022.
Jim led a rowdy life lived large and loud with a menthol dangling from one hand and a jelly jar of hooch in the other. He had an endearing talent of saying the most inappropriate thing imaginable at every single social gathering, including but not limited to weddings, graduations, and BBQ's. He never failed to give everyone a funny story to tell later.
Jimmy was a force of nature. He was a great lover of all music, every genre, all the time, volume too high. Sometimes you would catch him belly dancing to Beyoncé, or singing Van Morrison at the top of his lungs off-key, or crying on the porch to an old Keith Whitley song. He loved anything Alexa thought he said to play.
He found his soulmate in his wife, Kathy (Dodd), and spent his days finding ways to make her laugh. Sometimes it worked, and her belly laughter lit him up with joy. Sometimes he missed the mark completely, yet still watched his wife with love and pride as she threatened to beat him half to death.
He retired exhausted from Prestress Services in Mount Vernon and Annin Flagmakers in Coshocton. He spent his too few years of leisure on the phone with his stepkids Heather Misiano, Eric Watson, and Jason Hill, and yelling at the neighborhood children to get off his lawn.
Maybe Jim is now hugging his parents, James and Annetta.
Maybe he is once again a young giant of a man brawling Valhalla style with buddies he has lost? ...watch out fellas, that big freckled fist can do some damage, just ask his younger brothers Jeff and Darren.
We all hope the old legend is true, and Jimmy was met at the river by every animal he showed love and kindness to during his lifetime, waiting to greet him and help him cross to the other side. Hopefully Chewy the Pomeranian led the Stampede.
There was nothing Jim hated more than funerals, so we won't be doing that. Instead the family asks that you remember the larger-than-life man by sharing all your wild tales of him with everyone. Go outside, feed the birds and animals, adopt a pet that needs a home, plant something and watch it grow. Jimmy was quick to give away any good fortune or windfall received to anyone who might need help. He left this world a rich man in all that really matters: friendship of many and deep love from all. Share some of your own good fortune with others to honor Big Red and keep the love he shared alive. Please pay it forward.
"So goodnight you Moonlight ladies. And Rockabye Sweet Baby James."
The Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw is assisting the family. www.fischerfuneralhome.com.
