Jay Aaron Keazer's Obituary
Jay Aaron Keazer of Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed away on September 20, 2023.
Jay was born on December 26, 1982, in Rogers, Arkansas, to James “Jim” and Melody (Thompson) Keazer, who raised him to be an exceptional man, father, husband, friend, and community member.
Jay graduated from Rogers High School in 2001. He attended the University of Arkansas, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering. It was also where Jay met and wooed his future wife, Deborah Black. The two married in 2005 at Whitney Mountain Lodge on Beaver Lake. For the last 16 years, he worked as an engineer at Bernhard, improving the energy efficiency of hospitals and universities all over the country.
As Jay thrived in his professional endeavors, he did the same in his personal life. He and Deborah built a cherished community in Fayetteville and proudly welcomed their daughter, Caroline, into the world in 2011. Jay shined as a father, sharing his passions for traveling, biking, the outdoors, science, and music with Caroline, and instilling in her a sense of wonder for the wide world. He also founded a band that became a source of joy and center of celebration in his neighborhood. Jay was invariably kind, a quality he always carried with him, bringing patience, grace, and calmness to every interaction. He was always ready to lend a hand and could equally solve a problem with a bike wrench, a spreadsheet, or his even-handed thoughtfulness.
Jay was preceded in death by his father, Jim Keazer, and father-in-law, Tony Black. Jay is survived by his wife, Deborah Keazer, and their daughter, Caroline; his mother, Melody Keazer; sister, Jennifer Campbell, her husband, Slade, and their children, Kaitlyn and Brandon Henry; his mother-in-law, Phyllis Black; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; and friends throughout Northwest Arkansas and across the country.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Millar Lodge at Mt. Sequoyah,150 N. Skyline Dr. Fayetteville, AR 72701.
To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are made by Nelson-Berna Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of these organizations: Pedal It Forward (www.pedalitforward.org), Ozark Freedom Drivers (www.mightycause.com/organization/Ozark-Freedom-Drivers), or Ocular Melanoma Foundation (www.ocularmelanoma.org).
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