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several years of his life he exhibited a high level of
intelligence and was fast to grasp concepts. For
example he could identify each letter of the alphabet
at the age of sixteen months and could work with
negative numbers at the age of four years. He brought
a great deal of joy to the family. He could easily recite
the Pledge of Allegiance, the Apostle’s Creed, things
read to him, and give talks to family and friends while
he stood on the fireplace hearth, using it as a stage.
My husband and I on occasion traveled from our
home in Pulaski to the Mark Hanks’ home in Bedford
to babysit Keaton and, from time to time, his sitter’s
young granddaughter. The granddaughter Anne was
a daily companion to Keaton in the sitter’s home.
Keaton was just past his first birthday when his
maternal grandmother was diagnosed with a brain
tumor. For the next year Keaton’s mother made
many trips to Rocky Mount to spend time with her
mother Peggy Love. Usually Keaton and his father
accompanied Pam.
Mark and Pam had purchased a second house
somewhat larger than the first one they had previously
owned. This house had a large yard and Mark added
a wooden play set with swings, see-saw and a “tree”
house. Floyd and Peggy Love wanted to see the
new home, especially with their only grandson in it.
Peggy was wearing a turban to replace her hair, and
her illness had taken most of her strength. Carl and I
had visited Floyd and Peggy only one time during her
illness. Peggy died a year after her cancer diagnosis;
Keaton had reached his second birthday just a couple
of months before her death.