Mr. Timothy "Tim" Jackson Keener, 55, was born November 19,1968 to the late Fred and Carole Keener and joined his Dad and Mom in Heaven on Memorial Day, May 27, 2024.

Tim left behind a daughter, Reagan, a son, Noah, and their mother, Kara. His sister, Missy, also survives with her husband, Tom, and his nephews, Ryan and Peyton.

Tim grew up in East Ellijay with his parents and sister, Missy Keener Ocobock. Tim was an East Ellijay Eagle from grades 1-7 and finished grades 8-12 at Gilmer High School as a Bobcat graduating with the Class of 1986. He was elected by his classmates as class President for grades 9-12 at GHS. Tim was always a leader in all that he participated in such as church, sports or scouts. He always lived life to the fullest and was always ready for fun. His last few years at GHS were focused on baseball, where many friends considered him a "superstar" pitcher in all of North Georgia. He had dreams of playing major league baseball, but his career choice was to enlist with the U.S. Army.

He served his first year with the Army stateside and then on to Darmstadt, West Germany with his high school sweetheart and wife, Melissa. He served overseas until 1991, when he came back to the states and served in a joint military unit as a Presidential communications technician with the White House Communications Agency obtaining the rank of Sergeant

In April 1997, Tim was fortunate to obtain a job with the United States Secret Service as a Physical Security Specialist. He again was traveling the entire world living life to the fullest. He began in D.C. and eventually ended his time at the Atlanta Field Office. He spent over two decades in executive protection, physical security, technical criminal investigations and audio/video countermeasures. He was highly qualified in many disciplines, designed and deployed new technology to enhance protection programs, and conducted worldwide implementation of countermeasures to mitigate threats and vulnerabilities. He was certified to deploy Technical Surveillance Countermeasures in support of the President and Vice President of the United States. In addition to physical security, Tim contributed to the research, design and integration of new security assessment technology and trained other Secret Service personnel in their use.

In December 2018, Tim retired from the United States Secret Service and began work as Director of Global Technical Surveillance Countermeasures and Physical Security at Hawk Professional Investigations. In his role, Tim developed and deployed comprehensive strategies and programs for security assessment and planned and implemented to create technically secure environments for sites, events, and individuals.

"Tim is a rare combination of exemplary management and coordination of resources, meticulous security assessments and innovative thorough implementation in an environment where failure is not an option." ~ Hawk PI

Tim was honored with a Memorial Service on Thursday, June 13, 2024. His childhood pastor, Jess Posey, along with his youth baseball Coach and Mentor, Del Land, spoke of memories of Tim and his accomplishments in his younger years. He was escorted by motorcade to his final resting place in the Georgia National Cemetery.

The GHS Class of 1986 made a donation to the Gary Sinise Foundation in memory of Tim, "our friend, classmate, and patriot who made a difference in this world."

To further honor the memory of Tim Keener, a scholarship has been set up with the Gilmer Education Foundation.

~Tim Keener Memorial Scholarship~

Post Office Box 2602

Ellijay, GA 30540