Hutton, Keith

HUTTON, PAULSON, ROWE

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/6/2005 at 19:39:38

Funeral services for Keith Hutton, 52, of Knoxville, who died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, as a result of a racing accident at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, were held Friday, Aug. 15, at the Knoxville Raceway Grandstand. Chaplain Troy Miller officiated at the services. Katie Davis was soloist.

Interment was at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. Casket bearers were Jon Lenger, Tim Olson, Brent Smith, Kevin Smith, Rodney Turner, and Tony Ver Meer. Honorary bearers were the #55 Race Car Team.

Keith was born on June 30, 1951 in Brisbane, Australia, the son of Robert and Valerie (Paulson) Hutton. He was raised in Brisbane and following his high school graduation he served a four-year machinist apprenticeship. He worked as a fitter and turner and eventually opened his own shop, Race Engineering. On Dec. 12, 1989, he married Jenny Rowe at the Graceland Church in Australia.

Keith had a passion for racing that started with go-karts at the age of 16. He became very active in midget racing in Australia and was named the Queensland Midget Racing Association Club Champion in 1989, 1992, and 1993. In 1993 he and Jenny came to Knoxville to the Nationals and they never left. The couple followed their dream; they sold their business in Australia and made Knoxville their home.

After moving to Knoxville he worked for Grant Rankin and later for Dean Moats. He worked for Smith Fertilizer & Grain as their mechanic for six years. He then worked for Randy Hannagan and went on the World of Outlaws Tour for one year. Most recently, he has been employed as a mechanic for TK Concrete and as the crew chief for their sprint car.

Keith will always be remembered as the nice guy you could always depend on, with the six-inch rule in his pocket. Because of his kindness and generosity he was a friend to the entire racing community. Although he loved racing, his greatest love was being a husband to Jenny, a father to the apples of his eye, Nicole and Kelly, and a grandfather to Tyler and Keith. His entire family will always cherish his gentle guidance and love.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents.

He is survived by his wife, Jenny of Knoxville; daughters, Nicole Bonnett of Tampa, Fla., Kelly Ann Hutton of Eddyville, Katie Fritter of Australia, and Crystal Barnes of New Zealand; two grandsons, Tyler Keith Bonnett and Keith Richard Hutton; his parents, Bob and Val Hutton of Brisbane, Australia; a sister, Pam Gill and husband, Paul, and their children, Jonathan, Jessica, Hannah, and Alexander of Brisbane, Australia and countless friends.

Memorials may be made to the Keith Hutton Memorial Fund at Horizon Federal Savings Bank.

Arrangements were made by Bybee & Davis Funeral Home.

Knoxville Journal Express, August 29, 2003