Dec. 1929 – Jan. 2018
Keithal Buford Dick of Montague passed away at Skylark Assisted Living in Ashland, Oregon on Saturday, January 27, 2018. He was 88 years old. Keithal was born to Harry and Georgia Florence (Sinclear) Dick in Girard, Kansas on December 22, 1929. Keithal had two brothers: Clifford Clarence and Alan Lee. His family moved to the Denair-Turlock area of California when he was 6 years old. He attended grammar school in Turlock schools before moving to the Denair School District, where he finished grammar and high school.
Keithal married the love of his life, Lillian Mae Doerksen, on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1950. Over the next nine years they welcomed a son (Jere) and two daughters (Jonnie and Julie) into their home. Keithal and Lillian celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary together in April 2017.
Keithal worked for the Santa Fe Railroad and the California Department of Water Resources full-time for 42 years. He retired from full-time work and immediately went back to work for the state as a retired annuitant during the summer months for the next 20 years, sharing his knowledge and experience with younger employees and building on long-standing relationships with farmers in the region. He worked in the Surprise Valley, Scott Valley, and Shasta Valley areas of California.
Keithal loved the Lord and his family first. He loved being outdoors: hunting, fishing, and packing into the mountains. He loved to putter around on the ranch, farming and fixing things.
Keithal leaves behind his wife, Lillian, of Montague; son Jere (Myrna) Dick of Laurel, MD; daughters Jonnie York of Denair, CA and Julie (Paul) Weisman of Montague; grandchildren Travis (Sarah) Dick, Jamie (Scott) Wise, Wayne (Michelle) York, Suzy (Emmanuel) Slade, Andrew (Danielle) York, Brittany (Travis) Simas, Christy Barnett, Shawna (fiance Dustin) Weisman; nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers.
A graveside funeral service for Keithal will be held at on Monday, Feb. 5 at 2:00 p.m. at Denair Cemetery in Denair, and a Memorial Celebration of Life will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Connecting Point Nazarene Church, 3200 E. Monte Vista Ave in Denair.
Condolences may be sent to Lillian Dick, 900 Skylark Place, #101, Ashland, OR 97520. Girdner Funeral Chapel of Yreka and Allen Mortuary of Turlock are assisting the family.
The family would like to thank granddaughter Christy Barnett for her live-in assistance that allowed Keithal and Lillian to stay, until last year, on the ranch and in the home he built with his own hands. They also extend a huge thank you to Skylark Assisted Living and Providence Hospice for the wonderful, prompt, and attentive care.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his name to the Yreka Church of the Nazarene.
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