Fred J. Keyworth

Fred J. Keyworth passed away on Oct. 31, 2014 in Fountain Hills after a long struggle with Parkinson’s. He was born in Knowles, Okla. in 1932 to Ancel and Veva (Bond) Keyworth.

During his childhood, he lived in Arkansas and Oklahoma, ultimately settling in Hutchinson, Kan. Following high school graduation, he attended Fort Hays College where he graduated with a master’s in political science.

To pay for schooling, he worked as a policeman, did oil field construction and worked for the highway department. He married Eleanor Gill and had three children. Following completion of college, he taught for a time at Holyrood High School in Holyrood, Kan.

The family moved to Mesa, Ariz. in 1959 where he taught at Mesa High School until accepting a faculty position in 1964 in the social science department at the new Mesa Community College, then an extension of Phoenix College.

The first college building was located in what is now the Landmark Restaurant in Mesa where Fred had an office in the basement.

During his 25-year career at MCC, he served as Social Science Department Chair, Dean of Admissions, Dean of Instruction and Faculty Senate president. He was a dedicated classroom teacher and met former students wherever he traveled. He firmly believed in the value of higher education and helped both his children and grandchildren achieve their goals.

He met and married Claire Biaggi (Wright) in 1976, lovingly accepting her seven-year-old daughter. Summers were spent physically building cabins in Pine and later in Pinetop, traveling abroad (which included over 40 countries) and spending time hiking, camping and fishing.

He also loved to restore VW beetles. Fred loved Arizona and was an avid reader of its history. He enjoyed the “old” country western singers especially Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. Upon retirement, summers were in Pinetop. He loved spending time camping and fishing with his grandson Jordan and was most fond of the summer camping trip that followed the Lewis and Clark trail from St. Louis to Montana.

He could be seen with his beloved chocolate lab, Shadow, on his daily walks. He was a loving husband, a caring father and friend to all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Claire; his daughters, Christina Jackson of Fort Worth, Texas, Glenda Mae Keyworth-Henley of Austin, Texas, William Fredrick Keyworth of Claremore, Okla., Joy Osterberg of Rochester, Minn.; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley Fund Development, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014 or to National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD, 2174-5018.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. at Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary, 12065 N. Saguaro Blvd., in Fountain Hills.