Keith was born on Vashon Island, Wash., was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, lived in Los Angeles and Chicago, and traveled the world, but Lewiston became his home when he and his wife Pat moved there in 1979.

Keith, a devoted husband, father, "Gramps," brother and friend, died from the effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on Friday, May 29, 2015, at the same Normal Hill home he and his family moved into 36 years ago. He was 72.

Vashon was blanketed by a rare blizzard on Jan. 20, 1943, when Keith was born. There was an Army outpost a block away from his parents' house, and the soldiers took Keith's mother to a nursing home on the island that doubled as the birthing center, since their four-wheel-drive vehicles could get through the snow.

Keith was one of five brothers born to Bea and Steve Church, and they all grew up on the island, which Keith always said was the perfect place to be a kid.

From an early age, Keith was an avid reader with a wide range of interests. Reading was a hobby he enjoyed until his final days. He read multiple newspapers every day and enjoyed a variety of fiction, nonfiction and history books. He always had a piece of advice to give, based on whatever he had read that week.

He attended school on Vashon, then earned his bachelor's degree at Eastern Washington University and his master's degree at the University of Washington. In his early 20s, he worked on a commercial fishing boat, the Janet G., in Alaska. He later enlisted in the Marines and was stationed in Okinawa.

Keith met Patricia Reed through a mutual friend in Seattle in 1969. Three months later, the couple were married and, the following day, they moved to Los Angeles, where Keith had a job waiting with General Telephone.

About a year later, Keith was hired by Computer Science Corp., and he and Pat moved to Chicago. After a few years there, CSC transferred him back to Southern California, to Culver City, where they lived for five years.

In 1979, Paul Hayman, the general manager of Hahn Supply Inc. in Lewiston, was looking for someone to replace him so he could care for his ill wife. Glenn Reed, a friend of Paul, recommended his son-in-law Keith for the job. With Paul's approval, Hahn Supply owner A.L. (Butch) Alford Jr. ultimately hired Keith for the position, so the Church family made the move from L.A. to the small-town life of Lewiston, which they never regretted.

By this time, Keith and Pat had a son and a daughter: Alex, born in Chicago in 1973, and Sarah, born in Los Angeles in 1976. Keith was a source of love, advice and amusement for his children throughout his life, and both of them still live within blocks of the home they grew up in. Their home was a gathering place for countless family events, as well as an annual Christmas Eve party, for the past 26 years.

Keith was the general manager at Hahn Supply for more than 30 years, and continued to report to "the shop" during his semi-retirement. Even a week before his death, he was still going to work.

Keith had a great love of Hells Canyon and the Snake River, which he was first introduced to by "Captain" Frank Hoyt. Keith joined the "Wild Bunch," which would journey by jet boat to Frank's cabin at Coon Hollow every October for an extended fishing trip.

Keith and his good friend Ray Brooks later went in together on their own Snake River cabin at Shovel Creek in 1990. It was a one-room cabin perched on huge rocks when they bought it, and over the years that followed they added more rooms, decks, an irrigation system and a working shower (a warm shower after a long day on the river is fabulous). The Wild Bunch now stays at the Church-Brooks cabin every fall. Pat and Keith loved to take old and new friends to the cabin and introduce them to the rugged beauty of Hells Canyon.

Keith was a handyman and especially enjoyed woodworking. The cabin at Shovel Creek is decorated with funny signs he carved, and all his grandchildren have wooden toy boxes he made. Even if he goofed when etching words into one of his wooden creations, he usually found a way to cover up the typo. "He wasn't a perfectionist, but he made them with love," said one of his family members.

For years, Keith faithfully watched the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team play in the NAIA World Series. During his last week, he listened to the games on the radio and died moments after the Warriors won their 17th national championship.

Keith enjoyed traveling, cooking and spending time with his family. He and Pat made trips to China, South America, Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean. And with Alex and Sarah and their families, they traveled to Mexico, the Oregon Coast and many times to the cabin at Shovel Creek.

Keith also enjoyed investments and owned a number of properties in town with friends. He rehabilitated a few rundown houses in town and, although he did this mainly as an investment, he was very proud to help beautify the neighborhood at the same time.

Keith was kind, honest and willing to help others. He regularly donated blood to the Red Cross for many years. He was also active in Opportunities Unlimited, the Homebuilders Association and Habitat for Humanity throughout the years.

Keith is survived by his wife, Pat; and his children, Alex Church (wife Jeane) and Sarah Baney (husband Matt); and his grandchildren, Joey and Joshua Church and Miles and Lucy Baney, all of Lewiston. He is also survived by his brothers, Steve (Ceil), Dave, and Bruce (Phyllis), all of Vashon Island, and Jack (Shirley) of Stanwood, Wash.; as well as sister-in-law Vicki Miles (late husband Lee) of Portland, Ore.; brother-in-law Glenn Reed (Glenda) of Spokane; and many nieces and nephews.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws; and granddaughter Beth Irby, with whom he had a special relationship.

A celebration of Keith's life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church of Lewiston at 1906 Broadview Drive. A reception will follow at the same location. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the YWCA's domestic violence program, Willow Center or the Lewiston Independent Foundation for Education.

Service Information

Date & Time

Saturday, June 6, 11:00 AM

Location

First United Methodist Church
1906 Broadview Drive
Lewiston, Idaho 83501

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