Jake Keown

Jaeson “Jake” Todd Keown, age 56, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 3, 2025, after living with cancer for the past few years. His strength and faith helped him conceal his struggle well for a very long time. His sheer will to get up every day and be productive was humbling to all those around him. He often said, “Don’t quit living until you’re done; you might miss something!”

He was born on May 10, 1968, in Opelika, Alabama. He was a graduate of Darlington High School class of 1986 and went on to study electrical engineering at Vanderbilt University, graduating summa cum laude class of 1990.

After college Jake quickly learned he was more suited for being his own boss and set out on a long and successful career of demolishing, constructing, remodeling, engineering and fabricating just about anything he could imagine. Jake was a perfectionist in his work and never met a problem he couldn’t solve or at least “MacGyver” his way out of. He loved tinkering and “Jakeifying” things, and this past fall he completed a dream workshop dedicated to doing just that. He loved figuring out how things worked and then teaching others what he had learned.

Jake loved so much and so many. He loved laughing and was happiest when with his family and friends. He loved music and enjoyed most every genre. He even tackled learning to play the banjo—no small challenge by any account. Jake loved being outdoors whenever possible and especially loved his fishing trips in Mentone, Alabama. He loved four letter words as much as he loved Miller Lite and carne asada. He loved his family and did everything in his power to make sure he left them as prepared as possible for the day he could no longer be with them. Jake might have been a little rough around the edges, but he always told the truth, even if it wasn’t what someone wanted to hear. Jake had a huge heart, and he was always ready to lend a hand wherever and whenever one was needed.

Jake’s memory lives on through his wife, Lisa Keown and son Nathan Keown of Nashville, Tennessee; mother, Judy (Bob) Havens of Nashville, Tennessee; father, John Keown of Ellijay, Georgia; brother, Lukus “Luke” (Tammy) Keown of Nashville, Tennessee; nephew, Reilly Keown of Nashville, Tennessee; mother-in-law, Julie (Allan) Kleet of Paducah, Kentucky; sister-in-law, Jessica (Jeff) Heine of Birmingham, Alabama; nieces, June and Eleanor Heine of Birmingham, Alabama; and a host of friends. Jake will also be missed by cats Nova and Mookie.

A celebration of Jake’s life will be held at 11am on Saturday, March 1, at Whooping Crane Farm, 4496 Cleeces Ferry Road, Nashville, TN 37218.

Jake was a faithful supporter of the Nashville Rescue Mission. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to nashvillerescuemission.org.