Keith H. Meservy1924 - 2008
Keith Hansen Meservy, nudged by a determined case of Acute Leukemia has changed his address from this world to the next on April 27, 2008 . He was born in 1924 to Edward Southwick Meservy and Lucille Hansen. These extended the twin blessings of living in a choice free land where he was nourished and sustained by the fullness of the Gospel.
Arlene Bean, a blind date from Idaho (Arma Taylor met Arlene and told him: “Keith, I’ve found just the girl for you..” And she was right.) Soon enough she found a permanent place in his heart and their forever marriage took place in 1951 at the Logan temple. Four wonderful children and four wonderful companions have produced twenty grand children and three great-grandchildren) All of whom have brought profound joy to their hearts: Mike (Sally Oxborrow, dec.), Marcia (Dan Wheeler, the fisherman), Mark (Jileen Crenshaw,) and Lynda (Greg Schaelling).
Two sisters: out of five (Maurine (Jeston Jacobson, dec.] and Norma [Ronald Riding] preceded him in death. Three others remain: Ardis (Revo Rowley, dec.), Trudy (John Nickerson), and Naomi (John Ridimg).
Graduation from Provo High School in 1943 led to army in during WWII, followed by a mission to the Northern States in 1946-1948..This is where he learned to the meaning of love: love for people, love for the Gospel, love for the Scriptures and love for the opportunity to teach.
Studies at BYU and Johns Hopkins University prepared him academically to teach and he was hired by BYU to teach in the Ancient Scripture Dept. He loved his work and got up eagerly each morning to carry it out..Teaching at the Jerusalem Center was one of great fringe benefits he and his family were able to enjoy.
He loved life and reveled in living in this beautiful, marvelously endowed, magnificent, ever-changing world, especially the world that opens up from Utah Valley where canyon gateways open up magnificent mountain retreats that provided many happy hours camping, hiking, fishing, and hunting with his family.
He loved the Gospel and experienced great joy in serving in a variety of callings in the Church. There he discovered the joy that comes from working shoulder to shoulder with other good men and women while serving one’s fellow. men and women.
Now he is meeting those ancestors who left their comfortable homes in foreign lands to come to Zion. These forsook all that made their lives comfortable– their beloved countries, occupations, friends, associates and relatives and .made it possible for them and all their posterity to enjoy the fullness of the blessings that God in these last days is extending to his children. Their courageous decisions and faithfulness to their covenants they transmitted the gospel through five generations to him. Consequently he was born in this choice land under the influence of the gospel– both of which are blessings of incalculable value.
Special thanks to the many care givers especially over the last year and a half. But most of all he thanks his over-solicitousness wife whose sacrifices for him were overwhelming.
Funeral and viewings will be held at the Pleasant View 3rd Ward, 650 East Stadium Avenue, Provo, UT. Funeral is scheduled for May 1 at 11:00AM. Friends and family may visit on April 30 from 7:00 to 8:30pm and also May 1 between 9:30 and 11:00 AM. Interment will follow the funeral at the Provo City Cemetery. In leu of flowers a contributions may be made in Keith’s name to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Perpetual Education Fund.
The previous obituary was written by my dad and found on his computer. Of course with exception of updates to the dates, times and places. Space and cost constraints prohibited us from publishing this version in the news papers.
Click the Links below for newspaper version of obituaries. The newspaper versions also have a guest book feature for those that want to leave a condolence.
