Justin Keith Jr. | Eastern NC Now

    Justin Keith, Jr, age 80, a resident of Belhaven, NC passed away Friday January 2, 2026 at his home in Pamlico Beach. A memorial service will be held on Saturday January 17th, 6:00 PM at Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Washington, NC. He and his wife Nancy will be laid to rest together at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC.

    Justin Keith Jr (Or Jut as friends called him) was born on September 29, 1945 in Clatsop County, Oregon to the late Justin Keith Sr and Rae Sprague Keith. The family moved to Massachusetts when he was young, and in his teen years they relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His father owned a horse stable, and young Justin spent his days caring for the many animals they boarded.

    In 1963 he graduated from South Broward High School. After a few semesters at Broward College, he decided college wasn't the place for him, yet, and promptly joined the US Air Force. After his basic training, he was stationed in Tampa, Florida, but spent quite a bit of time deployed to Korea and Thailand. While home on leave, he met the love of his life Nancy Lee Keefer in Saint Petersburg Florida. At the time she was working in the gift shop of the HMS Bounty. They wed less than seven months later in August of 1966. In September of 1967, Justin and Nancy welcomed a baby boy, Shawn and in the spring of 1971, they would welcome a little girl, Sharon. By 1975, Jut was growing tired of the enlisted life and after several years of hard effort he obtained his Bachelor's degree from the University of West Florida. He quickly became a commissioned USAF Officer, and as a new 2nd Lieutenant, life was turning around for Jut, Nancy, Shawn and Sharon. While Nancy was raising the children in Millbrook (Maxwell AFB) Alabama, Justin became very active with the Alabama Jaycees. He quickly became chapter President in Millbrook and then VP and President at the Alabama Jaycee state level. Justin was always proud of the personal growth, friendships, community development and generous fundraising he experienced with the Alabama Jaycees.

    In the late 80's Justin returned to school to obtain his Master's from the University of Oklahoma. Sharon and Shawn had left the house and started their own families. He and Nancy spent the next few years in Texas, the Azores and finally Charleston SC. In 1996, LT Colonel Justin Keith Jr retired from the US Air Force. He and Nancy had purchased a 40 foot sailboat and planned to spend a couple of years cruising the east coast of the US. After traveling as far North as NYC, they came back South and settled into Belhaven. They loved the Pamlico Beach area, bought a few acres and built Nancy's dream log cabin. They spent many years sailing the Pungo and Pamlico, as well as BBQing with friends at the River Rat Yacht Club on Jordon Creek. For the next 30 years, Justin was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Washington, NC.

    He was preceded in death by his wife Nancy in May 2022, and is survived by his son, Shawn Keith of Bath, daughter, Sharon Gallagher of Fayetteville, five grandchildren, two great grandchildren in Texas, a brother, Michael Keith and sister, Elizabeth Libolt, both of Florida.

    Justin and Nancy loved all dogs. They had several and typically gave them creative names from the Lord of the Rings series. It wasn't unusual to hear him calling Boffin, Gollum, Bilbo from his deck. So, in lieu of flowers, Justin's family asks that if you choose to, please make a contribution to the ASPCA or to a local animal shelter of your choice in memory of Justin.

    The Keith family is very appreciative of the Paul Funeral Home of Belhaven and the care they awarded our mother in 2022 and our father now.

    Paul Funeral Home of Belhaven is honored to serve the Keith family.