Harry Robert Keast

Harry Robert Keast, Age 81, affectionately known as “Butch” by his family, passed away on October 9, 2025 of pneumonia in Swedish Edmonds Hospital in Edmonds, WA. Formerly of Lansing, MI, he was born on December 15, 1943 to Harry and Beatrice June Keast at Sparrow Hospital. Harry was a proud graduate of Sexton High School’s class of 1962 and attended Lansing Community College and Michigan State University where he achieved a B.A. degree in English. As a teen, he worked as a lifeguard at Silver Lake State Park and as a night desk clerk and lifeguard at the Lansing Capitol Park Hotel to earn his college tuition. He also was a disc jockey for LCC’s college radio station. He painted wall murals for several families in his Bretton Woods neighborhood including a bar scene with life-sized “beatniks” complete with shades and goatees sitting at bar stools in his parent’s basement. His home was a favorite hangout for regular high school dance and pizza parties.

Harry served in the U.S. Coast Guard on a weather boat off the Atlantic Coast, and lived for a time in Albuquerque, NM and Boulder, CO, where he enjoyed motorcycling and took part in the customized van culture of the 1970s. He spent his adult career as a Financial Student Aid Officer and Program Analyst with the Department of Education for the State of Michigan. He enjoyed traveling throughout Michigan to almost all of the State’s community colleges to help them accurately complete student loan applications.

Harry’s hobbies included a life-long love of swimming (he competed at a national level in breaststroke while at Sexton), reading, drawing, wood carving, perfecting various model railroad layouts, everything Disney and traveling via cruise ships. He was an avid moviegoer, MSU Spartan college football fan and built a beautiful Hobie Cat sailboat from plans. He enjoyed sailing both his little Sun Fish and catamaran on Windover Lake at the family cottage.

He married Jane Marie Phillips on December 9, 1978 and has two sons, Andrew and Matthew. Harry built the boys a marvelous tree house with an “elevator” and enjoyed building a multi-level deck in their backyard. They decorated their home in a big way every Christmas and hosted many family holidays. Harry made many improvements to their early Hunters Ridge Drive condo and later their home on Edwin Place. Jane passed away in 2003 at age 57.

Twenty years ago, Harry met Beth Eloheimo on a cruise ship. They fell in love over the course of the 2 week cruise and then began a five year, long distance relationship, during which time they traveled to many places including Ireland, England, France, and the Caribbean. He moved to Everett, WA and married her on May 14, 2010. During their 15 years of marriage, they continued to travel as often as possible. They enjoyed wine-tasting, attending plays, going on cruises, taking grand and great-grandchildren to Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and spending time with family.

Harry is survived by his wife, Beth; sons, Andrew of Washington, DC and Matthew of Lansing; his brother, John (Adele) of Quincy, MI and sister, Mary (Kurt) Spanburg of Harbor Springs, MI; his Aunt, Jan Budden of Lansing; brothers-in-law, Rodger (Terrie) Phillips of Toledo, OH, Rodney (Anne) Phillips of Wacousta, MI along with many beloved Keast, Budden and Phillips nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by his step-children, Adrianne (James) Nash/Wooding, Amy (Kurt) Ramuta, Ezra (Brenda) Nash and many loved and loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren all residing in western Washington State.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Gorsline Runciman Tiffany Chapel, 3232 W Saginaw St, Lansing, MI on Monday, October 27th at 11:00 am with visitation at 10:30 am. Graveside service follows at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 4444 W. Grand River, Lansing, MI.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Harry’s memory be sent to the American Brain Foundation 201 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis MN 55415. Donations can also be made online at americanbrainfoundation.org