Keith Alan Denton, 57, of Miami, Oklahoma, was welcomed into the loving arms of Jesus on June 16, 2026.
Keith, affectionately known as “Little Alan” to family and lifelong friends, was born on April 18, 1969, in West Plains, Missouri, to Roy Smith and Frances Denton. That nickname followed him most of his life, a way to tell him apart from his older brother, Roy “Big Alan” Smith.
Keith spent most of his life in West Plains before moving to Fairland, Oklahoma, in 2010. After a time back in the hills of Missouri, he returned to Oklahoma in the summer of 2020, settling in Miami, where he spent his final years surrounded by the people he loved most.
In the summer of 1985, Keith met the love of his life, Stacy Hunter. From that day forward, it was them against the world.
They were married on October 3, 1987, and shared 38 years of marriage and 41 years side by side. Through every mile, every storm, every blessing, and every hardship, they built a life together rooted in faith, family, loyalty, and love. Together they welcomed four children: Randy, Amanda, Nick, and Abby.
From 1986 to 1990, Keith proudly served his country in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer stationed at Fort Hood. After his military service, he climbed into a semi and spent the rest of his working years doing what he loved. The open road wasn’t just where he worked, it was where he belonged. Truck driving ran through his veins. He could tell stories from the road for hours, and usually did if you gave him the chance.
Keith loved the simple things in life. A fishing pole in his hand, family nearby, and something to tinker with was about all he needed. He had a habit of fixing things that didn’t need fixing, taking apart things that worked perfectly fine, and occasionally creating a bigger project than what he started with. But somehow, most of the time, he’d get it all put back together. He wasn’t happy unless his hands were busy and there was a problem to solve.
When one of the kids came to him carrying a burden, worried about life, or looking for answers, he’d usually let out a brief sigh and say, “Well… that’s just the way life goes.” It wasn’t fancy advice, but it was honest. Somehow those simple words always made things feel a little lighter. He had a way of reminding you that life wasn’t always fair, but you were strong enough to make it through.
Now that he’s gone, there’s one argument we’re probably never going to settle: which one of us kids was Daddy’s favorite. We’d all make our case, and he’d just grin and let us think we were right. Looking back, that’s because he loved each of us in a way that made us feel like we were the favorite.
More than anything, he was a man of faith. He loved the Lord and trusted Him through both the good days and the hard ones. His faith wasn’t loud or showy. It was steady. It showed up in the way he loved his family, helped his neighbors, worked hard, and kept going when life knocked him down. He believed God’s got a plan, even when we don’t understand it.
To know Keith was to love him. He never met a stranger. He could strike up a conversation with anyone, give you a hard time just because he liked you, and leave you laughing before he walked away. He was stubborn as a mule when he thought he was right, and if we’re being honest, he usually thought he was right. But beneath that tough exterior was a man with a heart as big as the open road he loved so much.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Frances; his brother, Roy “Big Alan” Smith; his sisters, Kimberly Smith and Kelley Smith; his father-in-laws, Larry Hunter and Michael Williams; and his infant son, Randy Denton.
We just know Heaven got a little louder when that little boy saw his daddy coming down that golden road. Thirty-nine years of hugs, stories, fishing trips, and love were waiting to be made up for.
He leaves behind the love of his life and best friend, Stacy Denton; his daughter Amanda McCready and husband Bernie of Dora, Missouri; his son Nicholas Denton and wife Stacey of Seneca, Missouri; and his daughter Abby Shepard and husband Michael of Miami, Oklahoma.
Keith’s greatest pride and joy were his grandchildren: McKoy; Calli and husband Zachariah; Hunter; Elizabeth; Daxton; Dylan; Judson; Lexi; Joshua; Stormy; Sawyer; and Jeremiah. Nothing could bring a smile to his face faster than talking about his grandkids. He was their biggest fan, their storyteller, their fixer of broken things, and the steady voice they could always count on. He loved each of them fiercely and without condition. Being called Grandpa wasn’t just a title to Keith. It was one of the greatest honors of his life.
He also leaves behind his mother-in-law, Brenda Hunter Williams; his brothers-in-law, Brandon Hunter and wife Camisha, and Adam Williams and wife Mindy; his sister-in-law, Megan Williams; his cousin, Sherra Emerson, whose reconnection after more than 50 years became one of life’s unexpected blessings; many nieces, nephews, cousins, lifelong friends; and enough stories to be told around tailgates, fishing holes, and kitchen tables for generations to come.
The family will hold a Celebration of Life at a later date and would like to thank each and every person for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support shown during this difficult time.
The miles may have ended, but the stories never will.
Rest easy, brother. Your shift is over. We’ll take it from here.
“Well… that’s just the way life goes.”
