Keith A. Talbot

Keith Albert Talbot was a man for whom actions would speak louder than words. His life motto might well have been “if it isn’t logical, it’s not important.” The qualities of being fair, just and the ability to recognize what was right were clearly driving forces in Keith’s life. He was also the kind of person who could respect a “do not disturb” sign, whether it was real or implied. He was analytical and observant, with an ability to be simultaneously spontaneous and keenly perceptive. Keith was modest in his actions and extremely literal in his thoughts and in the manner in which he communicated with others. When Keith said something, he meant it. All those who knew him appreciated this trademark quality.

His parents were David Rice Talbot and Olive Edith Merriman. Keith in lived in Mansfield, Ohio until he was 6 years old. Then the family moved to Santa Monica, California. Even as a small child, Keith wanted to understand what was right and what was wrong in any given situation. As Keith grew older, he realized the importance of being treated fairly, and in return, he treated everyone around him the same way. This belief in fair play served Keith well throughout his life and despite his natural shyness; he enjoyed a solid group of friends.

Keith sought to treat those around him with respect. He would look at the most reasonable and practical ways to settle any disputes.

Keith had three older brothers, David, Richard and Quinten and one sister, Anne, with whom he was closest in age.

During his childhood, family and friends viewed Keith as a quiet and reserved person with what most would consider a calm and tranquil demeanor. In fact, he was a fairly curious child who had the ability to entertain himself and didn’t require much in the way of outside stimulation. A great deal of Keith’s free time was spent learning how and why the things around him worked. He was an active child who loved being outdoors and absorbing all the sensory input that nature could provide. He enjoyed sailing and in his spare time he liked to watch football and basketball.

The fact that he was curious was an asset to Keith while he was in school. He possessed strong study skills and good concentration. He relished the task of scrutinizing problems, investigating all of the options and then solving them. Keith enjoyed tackling the project that was right in front of him and working it straight through to its conclusion. Sometimes, he would become so involved in the process of problem solving that he would lose awareness of his surroundings. Experience was Keith’s best teacher. He graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1958.

This same loyalty and up front honesty Keith shared with his friends carried over to other aspects of his life, including his relationships with his family. On May 23, 1987, Keith exchanged wedding vows with Ellen M. Armstrong at the Coconut Palms Chapel in Kauai, Hawaii. The marriage was a solid relationship, due in part to Keith’s skill at bringing fresh energy and clarity to meeting Ellen's needs. He was a great listener who enjoyed the couple’s “together” time, especially when it came to celebrating special occasions.

As the family grew, Keith was easily able to adapt to the changes and challenges of parenthood. Keith was blessed with two sons and two step-daughters, Timothy and Daniel and Meliney Calvert and Julie Westfall. They were also blessed with ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren, William, Elizabeth, Emily, Spencer, Candice Mae and her husband Jay, Billy, Arorra, Eric, Elaine, Anna, Sierra Savannah and Thomas Jay. Keith was never impulsive in dealing with family problems. Instead, he would carefully think things through before implementing the solution in a logical and objective manner. Keith was a strong, clear communicator who excelled at eliminating confusion by making matters crystal clear to all those involved. At the same time, Keith’s inventive nature could turn some of the boring old household chores into a fun activity for the family.

In his work life, Keith was the kind of person who had no difficulty in taking on a project and seeing it through to its completion. He excelled at dealing with those pesky details that can derail some people, and once he understood exactly why he was working on a project, he could plow full steam ahead. For Keith, being able to grasp the logical components of any task was significant to him in appreciating its importance. Even if he worked alone on an assignment, Keith was able to incorporate and welcome new insights from co-workers, and he would readily use them if they improved the process. He was a Revenue Officer for the Internal Revenue Service. He was employed for 26 years. Keith always made the effort to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

Keith was in the Navy. He understood his duty to serve his country and the importance of getting a job done. He was comfortable with the routines of the military and even liked them to some degree, especially when it came to grasping the clear instructions and guidelines he was expected to follow.

Keith’s curious and inquisitive nature influenced his choice of leisure pursuits as well. He applied his strong concentration and analytical skills as to how things worked to his choice of activities. He particularly enjoyed the “alone” time his hobbies provided. He still loved sailing as an adult. He also enjoyed watching football and basketball and doing crossword puzzles. Keith was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Keith was an asset to any organization he joined. In many ways, he was a man of action who would rather tackle a job than spend time chatting about irrelevant things. He worked well on small committees and excelled at focusing on the important details without getting bogged down by the unnecessary parts of an assignment. Throughout his later years, Keith was an active member of the Sun City Irish Club and Chico State Alumni.

Religion and faith were important to Keith. He was raised Episcopalian.

Keith passed away on September 8, 2010 at Sunrise Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is survived by his wife Ellen, sons; Timothy and his wife Heidi, and Daniel and his wife Cathy, step-daughters; Meliney and Julie and her husband Woody, grandchildren and great grandchildren. His Memorial Service was held at Palm Mortuary, Cheyenne on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 2:00pm

Keith strongly believed that talk is cheap. He was the type of person who would show others his feelings through his actions. He was practical and realistic but was able to be flexible when the need arose. He had a curiosity about the things around him and tried to experience life directly rather than sit back and talk about it. The experiences he treasured most were those he shared with his loved ones. Keith Albert Talbot will be greatly missed.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Summerlin-Funeral Home, Las Vegas, NV.