Keith Shea passed away in Olympia with family at his side on September 19, 2010. He was born on December 24, 1924 in Greenfield, IA in a rural farmhouse to Helen and Richard Shea. During the depression he and his mother lived with his grandparents. Keith ran a trap line which he visited twice daily and with the money he made was able to gradually build a flock of sheep which he then sold as needed to help with expenses. His mother then married William Freeze. Keith graduated from Dexter High in 1942 and joined the military 6 months later. Dad was a veteran of WWII and proudly served on the USS Charleston in the Aleutians, China and the Battle of Attu Island as a medic. He attained a BS in Forestry from the University of Minnesota where he married Edith Gasser. He earned a PhD in Forest Pathology from the University of Wisconsin in 1954.
His forestry career began in Centralia with the Weyerhaeuser Company as one of the initial research team. While in Centralia, he was scout leader of Weyerhaeuser Troop 44, and a member of the local Kiwanis. Keith was also on the Centralia School Board and along with other community leaders brought the community college to Centralia. In 1966 he moved to Corvallis, OR to become head of the US Forest Research Station. He married his current wife, Dolores Kinder Wall in 1968. The couple then moved to Washington DC in 1971 and he rose to the level of Associate Deputy Chief, Forest Research, USDA Forest Service. After years of public service, he retired in 1986. Keith's international research and published papers in the areas of acid rain, the gypsy moth, the pine bark beetle, high yield forests and reforestation continue to have merit in managing today's international forests.
Dad loved to travel and to meet people. He and his wife, Dolores, traveled as often as possible during his career and later during retirement. Keith especially loved New Orleans and celebrating Mardi Gras with friends in Apache Junction, AZ, where he and Dolores wintered for 20 years. His love of nature and the great outdoors along with camping, hiking, fishing, woodworking and cooking gourmet food has been passed on to all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Dolores. Children include David Shea, Robin Hilleary, Julie DePuydt, Dan Shea (deceased) Paula Shea, Matt Shea, Joe Wall, Peggy Harris, and Penny Schaefer. The family, including 16 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and his cat Sammy will miss him greatly. Remembrances, in lieu of flowers can be made to the Boy Scouts of America, The Nature Conservatory or to a favorite charity. A graveside memorial service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Centralia on October 2nd at 2:00PM. Arrangements are under the direction of Newell-Hoerling's Mortuary.
His forestry career began in Centralia with the Weyerhaeuser Company as one of the initial research team. While in Centralia, he was scout leader of Weyerhaeuser Troop 44, and a member of the local Kiwanis. Keith was also on the Centralia School Board and along with other community leaders brought the community college to Centralia. In 1966 he moved to Corvallis, OR to become head of the US Forest Research Station. He married his current wife, Dolores Kinder Wall in 1968. The couple then moved to Washington DC in 1971 and he rose to the level of Associate Deputy Chief, Forest Research, USDA Forest Service. After years of public service, he retired in 1986. Keith's international research and published papers in the areas of acid rain, the gypsy moth, the pine bark beetle, high yield forests and reforestation continue to have merit in managing today's international forests.
Dad loved to travel and to meet people. He and his wife, Dolores, traveled as often as possible during his career and later during retirement. Keith especially loved New Orleans and celebrating Mardi Gras with friends in Apache Junction, AZ, where he and Dolores wintered for 20 years. His love of nature and the great outdoors along with camping, hiking, fishing, woodworking and cooking gourmet food has been passed on to all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Dolores. Children include David Shea, Robin Hilleary, Julie DePuydt, Dan Shea (deceased) Paula Shea, Matt Shea, Joe Wall, Peggy Harris, and Penny Schaefer. The family, including 16 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and his cat Sammy will miss him greatly. Remembrances, in lieu of flowers can be made to the Boy Scouts of America, The Nature Conservatory or to a favorite charity. A graveside memorial service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Centralia on October 2nd at 2:00PM. Arrangements are under the direction of Newell-Hoerling's Mortuary.
Keith Shea passed away in Olympia with family at his side on September 19, 2010. He was born on December 24, 1924 in Greenfield, IA in a rural farmhouse to Helen and Richard Shea. During the depression he and his mother lived with his grandparents. Keith ran a trap line which he visited twice daily and with the money he made was able to gradually build a flock of sheep which he then sold as needed to help with expenses. His mother then married William Freeze. Keith graduated from Dexter High in 1942 and joined the military 6 months later. Dad was a veteran of WWII and proudly served on the USS Charleston in the Aleutians, China and the Battle of Attu Island as a medic. He attained a BS in Forestry from the University of Minnesota where he married Edith Gasser. He earned a PhD in Forest Pathology from the University of Wisconsin in 1954.
His forestry career began in Centralia with the Weyerhaeuser Company as one of the initial research team. While in Centralia, he was scout leader of Weyerhaeuser Troop 44, and a member of the local Kiwanis. Keith was also on the Centralia School Board and along with other community leaders brought the community college to Centralia. In 1966 he moved to Corvallis, OR to become head of the US Forest Research Station. He married his current wife, Dolores Kinder Wall in 1968. The couple then moved to Washington DC in 1971 and he rose to the level of Associate Deputy Chief, Forest Research, USDA Forest Service. After years of public service, he retired in 1986. Keith's international research and published papers in the areas of acid rain, the gypsy moth, the pine bark beetle, high yield forests and reforestation continue to have merit in managing today's international forests.
Dad loved to travel and to meet people. He and his wife, Dolores, traveled as often as possible during his career and later during retirement. Keith especially loved New Orleans and celebrating Mardi Gras with friends in Apache Junction, AZ, where he and Dolores wintered for 20 years. His love of nature and the great outdoors along with camping, hiking, fishing, woodworking and cooking gourmet food has been passed on to all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Dolores. Children include David Shea, Robin Hilleary, Julie DePuydt, Dan Shea (deceased) Paula Shea, Matt Shea, Joe Wall, Peggy Harris, and Penny Schaefer. The family, including 16 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and his cat Sammy will miss him greatly. Remembrances, in lieu of flowers can be made to the Boy Scouts of America, The Nature Conservatory or to a favorite charity. A graveside memorial service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Centralia on October 2nd at 2:00PM. Arrangements are under the direction of Newell-Hoerling's Mortuary.
His forestry career began in Centralia with the Weyerhaeuser Company as one of the initial research team. While in Centralia, he was scout leader of Weyerhaeuser Troop 44, and a member of the local Kiwanis. Keith was also on the Centralia School Board and along with other community leaders brought the community college to Centralia. In 1966 he moved to Corvallis, OR to become head of the US Forest Research Station. He married his current wife, Dolores Kinder Wall in 1968. The couple then moved to Washington DC in 1971 and he rose to the level of Associate Deputy Chief, Forest Research, USDA Forest Service. After years of public service, he retired in 1986. Keith's international research and published papers in the areas of acid rain, the gypsy moth, the pine bark beetle, high yield forests and reforestation continue to have merit in managing today's international forests.
Dad loved to travel and to meet people. He and his wife, Dolores, traveled as often as possible during his career and later during retirement. Keith especially loved New Orleans and celebrating Mardi Gras with friends in Apache Junction, AZ, where he and Dolores wintered for 20 years. His love of nature and the great outdoors along with camping, hiking, fishing, woodworking and cooking gourmet food has been passed on to all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Dolores. Children include David Shea, Robin Hilleary, Julie DePuydt, Dan Shea (deceased) Paula Shea, Matt Shea, Joe Wall, Peggy Harris, and Penny Schaefer. The family, including 16 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and his cat Sammy will miss him greatly. Remembrances, in lieu of flowers can be made to the Boy Scouts of America, The Nature Conservatory or to a favorite charity. A graveside memorial service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Centralia on October 2nd at 2:00PM. Arrangements are under the direction of Newell-Hoerling's Mortuary.
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