Friday, October 2, 2020
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As I reflect on the life of my big brother Keith, I am struck by how much love he gave to everyone he knew and everything he did. He loved his wife Jean and his three children dearly, was so proud of them and their integrity and faith. He loved his grandchildren and the feeling of having fostered a family circle that lived into his ideal of how it should be. He loved his work as a school teacher (although not always, given the conditions sometimes in public schools). He wanted the best for his students and strove to give it to them over a long career in the classroom. He loved to serve, as he did at church, and made important contributions in his many roles over the years. He loved his brother and sisters, even when we were not that easy to love. He always wanted to keep strong connections with us, going out of his way to visit or to invite us to visit him. He was so accepting of me and my partner, Janet. I am grateful for his loving and positive influence on my life. And I loved his quirky (and somewhat corny) sense of humor, with his sweet greeting of "Well, hello, sis," and huge smile every time we saw each other. His interest in model trains, his artwork, his enjoyment of camping and travel all over the U.S. and even--at Jean's urging--overseas, his steady and devoted faith, his comfy recliner in which he spent many hours reading (and snoozing), and, especially in his younger years, his insistence on sharply creased pants and glossy shined shoes--these are all such fond memories of Keith. I will miss him very much and will always be grateful for his love and support over the years. As the Bible says, rest in peace and rise in glory, dear brother.
