John Mitchell Keys

Silverton- John “Jack” Keys, 89, passed away March 10, 2016. He is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years Olga “Jean” Keys, and his parents John and Florine Keys. He leaves behind his children Amy and Mike White, April and Tim Kelley, Vicky Tournay, John Michael and Tammy Keys, 11 Grandchildren, and 11.5 Great-Grandchildren.

Born in Littleton, CO January 7, 1927. The early years of Jack’s life were full of scares due to being told he would not live past the age of 21 and the Great Depression brought moves to Arkansas and Kansas and finally settling in La Junta, CO. Here Jack learned to fight his severe asthma by learning to play the clarinet. This in turn gave him the opportunity, at the age of 13, to join the ROTC band at La Junta High School. In the ROTC, Dad excelled to the point of being Student Band Leader. After high school, Jack joined the Army Air Force where he served for 18 months before being honorably discharged as a Corporal at the end of WW2. One evening at the local ROTC youth club in walked a beautiful blonde. He asked her to go out. The evening was completed with a ride home when Dad realized that she was the love of his life. Besides he knew he was stuck with her for Jean told her parents that same night she had met the man she would marry. They were married on June 26, 1948 and this was the start of his “biggest adventure.” Jean past 20 months ago from complications of Dementia.

Jack attended Junior College to become a music teacher, but with a new wife and son on the way, Jack became a Firefighter/EMT for the town of Pueblo, CO. With the thought of providing for his family on his mind, Jack moonlighted as a Mortician’s Assistant, where he was provided an apartment above the funeral home. After several years and three children, Jack and Jean packed up the family and migrated to Cucamonga, CA. where Jack worked at Cucamonga Fire Dept. attaining Assistant Fire Chief. he and Jean had their fourth and final child. Leaving the smog of California because of his Asthma, Jack and Jean moved their family to Oregon.

Jack and his family settled on a small farm in Scotts Mills, Or.. In Silverton, Jack opened a copy center, a multiple listing company, and bus depot and did a short time as Director of the Silverton Chamber of Commerce. In doing this, he landed himself and Jean roles in the Hollywood classic “Fire” as Couple #1 walking down main street in Silverton.

Jack and Jean sold the farm in Scotts Mills and moved to an apartment above Unger Funeral Chapel in Silverton, OR. While living here, Jack worked for Unger’s as a funeral director for 18 years. During his career at Unger’s, Jack made a life-long friend in Janie Woodward, who he made his honorary fifth child.

After Heart Bypass Surgery which resulted in a Spinal Stroke, Jack was unable to walk and was moved to Marquis Care Silver Gardens where he spent the last 8 years of his life. “Jack’s Angels” took great care of him and Jean. The family would like to extend our appreciation to the staff at Silver Gardens for their amazing care and compassion.

We will celebrate this courageous, gentle, humble man Friday April 15, 2016 at Silverton First Christian Church at 1 pm. Arrangements under the direction of Howell-Edwards-Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Directors, Salem, Oregon.