Keith was born on July 30th, 1981, in Wilson, North Carolina, to Danny Keith and Dorothy "Jean" (Barnes) Tomlinson. They loved him with every ounce of their being, and his love was matched to theirs. They were his anchors, and after the loss of his father, he shifted all of his focus to caring for and protecting his Mama. Keith stopped at nothing to make her life full of joy and love. Keith worked long-term at Bridgestone, and every day he was off, he would take her out to dinner, movies, arboretums, and museums. They became incredibly close and shared in their love of film and music. When she became sick, he cared for her every single day without fail. During her extended hospitalization, he took leave from work and only left her side to sleep. She was truly his best friend. He loved to tell stories about his Dad and Mom. You could not ask for a better or more loving son. 

Keith was more than a best friend; he was family. He cared for his friends with a fierce, steady love that was unmistakable. Like his physical intimidating collection of books, each relationship, however seemingly small, had a special book in his heart where he compiled every memory, nuance, and special quality. Keith wasn't an extrovert, which enabled him to be a perfect listener and detective. His friends were his case and he took his job seriously. He knew his friends with such precision and intimacy that you never felt alone knowing that he was around. He treated his closest friends as his chosen family and went out of his way to bond with and care for them. With a life enriched by so many of these beautiful relationships, his library shelves were full. Even if you only knew Keith in passing, rest assured that he not only remembered you but also actually cared for you. Many have remarked that even knowing Keith for a short time felt like having known him since childhood. He made everyone feel at home in his presence. He was genuine, gentle, and the biggest supporter of anything his friends sought to achieve. 

Keith never had children, but he did have a perfectly imperfect rescue dog whom he loved and cared for as if she were his human child. Karma came into Keith's life while his mother was going through cancer treatments and became his baby shortly following her death. She truly kept him afloat and anchored when he was drifting aimlessly out to sea. He gave her too many treats, too many toys, too many collars and shirts, too many beds, and his entire heart. Karma had been severely abused and trusted almost no one. Dogs can see into our souls, to our true selves, and Karma saw his. Her love and trust only solidify the exceptional quality of Keith's heart. In addition to his dog, Keith loved and was loved by every animal he met. He had a gentle spirit, voice, and touch that comforted them, even when they were afraid. 

"A man who limits his interests limits his life" -Vincent Price 

Keith was well known all over the North Carolina book, comic, toy, record, movie, and gaming communities. He was more than a lifelong staple in these groups; he was a beloved friend. In these communities, he found his people and those he regarded as family. He never missed out on checking out a comic convention, toy swap, author or celebrity signing, record show, reading club, or game night. He was regarded as a collector, but don't misunderstand: he did not simply collect; every piece that he curated was meticulously catalogued and treated with reverence. Keith hunted for and tried to complete entire runs of books by his favorite authors (and every unique re-release) and individual issues of his favorite comics (He was a Green Lantern in his mind). Art from comic artists adorned every room in his house. Keith loved so many genres of music that he would often surprise people. From old school jazz to Prince to modern synthwave, he held the entire record shop in his head. He loved attending concerts with his friends. He had a deep love for classic black-and-white films, horror flicks, cartoons, and paranormal mysteries. He was a vault of information on actors and every degree of separation they had with other actors and movies. Keith loved to play games, from epic storytelling video games and snail-mail mystery letters to card games and detective escape boxes. He played something for some period of time every single day and loved sharing this with his friends. He wasn't just into his hobbies; his hobbies were his lifeline. 

Keith is preceded in death by his father, Danny Keith Tomlinson; his mother, Dorothy Jean Barnes Tomlinson; his sister, Gloria Denise Tomlinson; his grandparents; and many aunts and uncles. He is survived by many cousins, Aunts, and Uncles, and a host of friends whom he called family. 

Keith taught us that we should always have curiosity over fear, compassion over anger, and steadfastness over impatience...to live every single day at your own pace, authentically, without caring what others think of you. We will cherish all the jokes, the nicknames, the fun, the "lol" at the end of every message, the late-night talks, the long goodbyes, and, most of all, the love. Keith's friends will be hosting a Celebration of Life in the spring, where we will share stories, memories, good food, and great music. 

Poignant lyrics from Keith's favorite artist, Prince:

"Everybody wants to find Graffiti Bridge, something to believe in

A reason to believe that there's a heaven above. 

Everybody's looking for love

Everybody wants to find the perfect one

Someone that makes you happy, someone who makes you laugh when you want to cry

The love of a boy, the love of a girl

The love that comes from a warm heart in a cold, cold world

A bridge of many colors, a bridge that leads them to a love they know is real.

There's a future, a future worth fighting for

I'm a living witness. 

Everything's gonna be alright

I know it is."