Obituary for William Henry Keyser William Henry Keyser “Bill”, born February 6, 1937 in Mandan, North Dakota, passed away quietly on April 12, 2018 in Salem, Oregon. His wife and children were by his side. The son of a wheat rancher, he enjoyed his early years on the family farm.
After his father’s premature death, Bill along with his family lived along the Columbia River making homes in Vancouver, Cascade Locks, and Hood River where he graduated in 1956 as Student Body President and all-conference football player. Bill married his wife of 62 years, Kay Frances Loyd, in 1956 and they moved to La Grande, Oregon where he graduated from Eastern Oregon State College with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Bill obtained his Master’s degree from Eastern in 1965 and had a distinguished career as a school teacher and administrator including positions in the Milton-Freewater School District, The Dalles School District, Hood River School District, Salem School District and as Superintendent of a private school district in Ephrata, Washington.
After his retirement from education, Bill and Kay settled in the Walla Walla Valley living in both Walla Walla and Milton-Freewater whereBill served as Director of the Milton-Freewater Chamber of Commerce. Becoming “snowbirds”, Bill and Kay bought a home in the Palm Springs area where they wintered for several years before health issues caused them to return full time to a home in The Dalles. Throughout his life, Bill was an avid golfer, dedicated husband, father and grandfather and active in his community.
He is remembered by friends and family as a kind and compassionate man. His grandson Levon echoed what many feel when he wrote “I don’t think I will have a better example of how a man should live his life”. Bill was preceded in Death by his father Dwight Fernes Keyser, mother Louise Edna Keyser, and brother RonaldKeyser.
He is survived by his wife Kay, son Boyd Keyser, daughters Cynthia Babcock and Kelly Martinez, as well asgrandchildren Ryan Keyser, Robert Keyser, Kathryn Keyser, Levon Rector, Sammie Rector, Karsten Lange and KarlyLange Gatchet and great grandchildren Carter Gatchet and Winston Keyser. He is also survived by sisters Ilah Glazier, Sylvia Van Winkle, Sharon Nichols, Velva Dillow and Jewel Sisneros and members of the extended Loyd Family. Per his request, Bill’s ashes will be scattered in the Columbia River at a time as yet to be determined.
More information on Bill’s life and an opportunity to post your own remembrance can be found at www. cornwellcolonial.com.
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