With his loving family at his side, Johnnie Lee Keith died in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 3, 2018, at the home of his son in Lakeside. He was 80 years old. The public viewing and friends calling will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 9, at Owens Livingston Mortuary White Mountain Chapel, located at 320 N. 9th St. in Show Low. The funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, at the Love Lake Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 700 E. Love Lake Road in Taylor, where additional visitation will begin one hour prior. The concluding service and interment will immediately follow at the Pinedale Cemetery in Pinedale, where he will be laid to rest alongside his forever sweetheart, Phyllis. Johnnie was born on Tuesday, March 16, 1937, in Bernalillo, N.M., to his parents the late Walter Lee Keith and Beulah Petersen Keith. As a toddler, Johnnie moved to Arizona with his family. He was a graduate of Snowflake High School’s Class of 1954. On Sept. 9, 1955, Johnnie married his sweet bride, Phyllis Wahl, in the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Together, they raised two wonderful children, who were each the “lights of their eyes.” Sadly, Phyllis died in October of 2014, only a month after celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary. For the remainder of his life, Johnnie found a great deal of peace knowing that theirs was a marriage that would last throughout the eternities; even, breaking the bands of death. In the late 1960s, Johnnie and his brothers-in-law, Bob and Steve Wahl, formed KW Logging. They ran a successful logging company for many, many years. Work was Johnnie’s hobby and he taught his family, by example, the value of hard work. His incredible work ethic served him well throughout his life as he was always able to provide a loving and comfortable home to his family. It has been said that, “Johnnie hauled more logs than any other logger in the entire Southwest.” He hauled his last load of logs at the age of 78! Johnnie always possessed a positive attitude and was a true friend to all. He lived by the motto that, “Every day’s a good day!” and recited it daily to his family. He was a man who loved his Lord and sought to serve Him throughout his life. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities of the church in Arizona and New Mexico; including a calling as the Cibecue Branch President. One of his favorite callings in the Church was that of serving as a stake clerk for several years. He knew just about every member of his stake on a first name basis. He was a great example to his family and community in showing them how to experience the joy of serving others. Johnnie was a faithful home teacher throughout his life and even had the opportunity to complete his home teaching assignment, for the last time, in February of this year. He truly loved others and always believed that when in the service of his fellow beings, he was only in the service of God. Johnnie Lee Keith is survived by his son, Kenny (Shawn) Keith of Lakeside; his daughter, Julene (Mark) Muder of Show Low; his sister, Janice (Tom) Ingram of Rigby, Idaho; four grandchildren, Chris (Kaylee) Muder of Show Low, Shelly (Nic) Finch of St. Johns, Arizona, Brian Muder of Phoenix and Danny (Allyse) Keith of Gilbert; and eight great-grandchildren, Brooklee Finch, Brinley Finch, Rylie Muder, Kinlee King, Kinadee King, Kannon Keith, Kardon Keith and Tyler Muder. Along with his wife and parents, Johnnie was preceded in death by his three brothers, Lester Eugene Keith, Larry Gene Keith and Alfred “Poley” Keith. Owens Livingston Mortuary of Show Low handled the arrangements.
