Keith Surgenor Obituary

November 2, 1947 - March 10, 2024

MT. HOLLY, NC- Keith was called home at the age of 76 on March 10, 2024. He wove his roles as husband, father, grandfather, and friend into a beautiful quilt that will be his legacy. Born November 2, 1947, in Kingsport, TN, he was the oldest child of the late Tina and Joe Surgenor. He met his wife, Frances Ewald, at Ketron High School and three years later they were married in 1967.

Keith's greatest joy came from the time he spent with his family. His life was full of love for others, family, serving, and devotion as husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He will be missed by all as he touched so many. Keith achieved his undergraduate degree from East Tennessee State University and later his MBA from University of Tennessee. Keith was no stranger to hard work. He started working from a young age at his family's and surrounding farms. He started his professional career at Eastman Kodak in Kingsport, TN, and later accepted positions in labor relations and human resources at large corporations in Houston, TX, Memphis, TN, Pittsburgh, PA, and Jackson, TN. He always sought better opportunities to be the best provider for his family. In 1988, Keith became Director of Human Resources at Tampa Electric Co. (TECO) and was later named President in 1994.

Keith's faith in Christ was central to his life. He knew Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Every time he moved to a new job, he always found a new church home quickly to be surrounded by a church family.

He was an active member in every church and has been a lifelong Sunday School teacher. He especially enjoyed opportunities to help those in need whether through the church with Room In the Inn and other missions, working to build homes for Habitat for Humanity, or making sandwich bags for the homeless and driving around with Frances to deliver them to those in need in Charlotte and more recently in Gastonia.

Outside of spending time with his family, career, and church, Keith loved working in his yard, researching and learning new things, watching sports (especially football), coffee chats with friends, and was a lifelong UT Volunteer fan. He was so proud of his family and never failed to send notes or texts at each accomplishment no matter how small.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Tina Surgenor; his brother, Danny Joe Surgenor, and mother and father in-law, Thomas, and Edna Ewald.

He is survived by his loving wife of 56+ years, Frances Ewald Surgenor; daughter, Angela Hall and husband, Robert, and daughter, Ginger Marquis and husband, Steve; granddaughters, Lindsey Lanier, Alexandria Hall, Brooke Hall, and Makenna Lanier and grandson, Jackson Hall; sister, Linda Catlett and her husband, Ronnie; sisters-in-law, Pat Roller Surgenor, Peggy Ewald Wilson and her husband, Earl, Patsy Ewald Repass and her husband, Jerry, and brother-in-law, Richard Ewald and his wife, Andrea; along with many nieces and nephews.

The family will have a graveside service on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 11:00 am at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Kingsport, TN with Matt Lavinder delivering the eulogy. A celebration of life ceremony will be planned at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, we ask for donations to be made to University City United Methodist Church https://onrealm.org/UniversityCityUMC/-/form/give/now or Charlotte Rescue Mission https://charlotterescuemission.org/donate/

He will always be his families' guardian angel.

The care of Keith Stevenson Surgenor and his family has been entrusted to the staff of Oak Hill Funeral & Cremation Services.