Keith Edward Fowler

Keith Edward Fowler, known to many as Bear, died of complications from chronic kidney disease on December 23, 2022. He is survived by his wife of seven years, Rachel Cabaniss, his sister Jacqueline Anderson, brother-in-law Paul Anderson, sister-in-law Robin Fowler, and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Joanne Fowler, and his brother, Michael Fowler.

He was born on March 6, 1967 in Charlotte, NC. Keith moved with his family to Snellville, GA, at age nine. His father was a computer engineer and his mother a nurse. Keith learned to cook and garden from his beloved nana, who lived with the family. Growing up, Keith played many team sports (often coached by his father), and was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America.

As an adult, his home base was Athens, GA, but he enjoyed traveling and had a great sense of wanderlust. He lived in cities such as Memphis, Birmingham, and Keystone, Colorado, but always returned to Athens. A talented guitarist who loved music, Keith played in many bands and contributed to other musical projects, often working on the road with bands from Athens. Keith was also a talented sound engineer and interested in recording. He credited the many people he worked with at the Georgia Theater over the years with teaching him these skills.

Keith attended Southern Polytechnic in the early 1990s, but did not complete a degree at that time. In 2014 he went back to school and received an Associate’s Degree in Network Engineering in 2016. At the time of his death, he was employed as a computer operator at the University of Georgia, in the EITS department.

In 2012 he met Rachel Cabaniss, who became his wife in 2015 after he proposed to her at the gates of Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Keith was known for his loyal friendship and blunt honesty. He was kind-hearted and helpful to his friends, always offering whatever he could even when he didn’t have much himself. Keith loved dogs his whole life (especially his beloved Simba, and later, Molly). In addition to music, he loved baseball, football, record-collecting, comic books, and motorcycles.

Donations in Keith’s memory can be made to Nuçi's Space and the American Kidney Fund.

A memorial celebration is planned for March 2023. More information will be announced publicly when confirmed.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.