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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.

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