Leonard Keith Sherwood

Leonard Keith Sherwood, age 91, passed from this life on June 25, 2014, with LaVeda, his beloved wife of 71 years, by his side. Friends and family will miss the sweet smile of this gentle, loving and devoted man.

Keith was born on September 13, 1922 in Cardston, Alberta, Canada to Elmer Sherwood and Huldah Savannah Anderson. He was the second youngest of five brothers and two sisters. He and his siblings were raised by their mother after his father's early death when Keith was very young. He grew up and attended school in Raymond and Cardston, Alberta. As a teen working at the local movie theater, and attending church youth activities, he met the love of his life, LaVeda Faun Jensen. They married in the Cardston Alberta Canada Temple on April 7, 1943. They spent the first of their young married life in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada while Keith served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as an airplane mechanic for four years during World War II.

In 1955, Keith and LaVeda sold their home in Canada and moved with three young children, Philip Keith (7), Jeffrey Rand (4), and Julie Dawn (2) to Moses Lake to work for Quinn Watson as an interior painter. They bought two acres of land and lived in a Spartan trailer as they began to build the family home section by section. As the children grew, so did the house, patio, garden, and beautifully landscaped yard complete with fruit trees, fire pit, and eventually, a large pond with waterfall. Nine years later two sisters, Rita Kay (4 ?) and Deborah Rae (3 ?) came to complete their family.

A quiet man, Keith was a hard worker and excellent painter and wood finisher. He worked in that capacity (earning his Master Painter certification along the way) for the Moses Lake School District and at Big Bend Community College, until his retirement in 1985. He was mentioned in a recent newspaper article for his work on refinishing an organ that is still at the college. He also refinished the church organ and pews during the renovation of the LDS Stake Center at 1515 N. Division. His home featured many of his projects, including furniture that he built. Family and friends received countless gifts of hand crafted items that Keith worked on in his shop - quilt frames and wooden reindeer Christmas yard ornaments to name a few. Keith and LaVeda were always a team. Whatever they thought up, they could make. Keith put hundreds of quilts on frames for his wife, their friends and family. His hands were always busy.

His customized camper van was a source of enjoyment for Keith. He put thousands of miles on it as they traveled with their family and camping group.

A lifelong active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he gave many hours of service and particularly enjoyed working in the scouting program. After retirement, he served three church missions with his wife - including 18 months on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona.

Keith and LaVeda stayed in their home until the age of 90 and 89, at which time they moved into assisted living.

LaVeda and her children wish to thank the staff at Moses Lake Senior Living Community for their loving care; and Kayser's Chapel of Memories for their thoughtful professionalism at this time of loss.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and two sons. He is survived by his beloved wife, LaVeda; son Philip (Lori) Sherwood of Cheney, WA; Julie Sherwood Pippins of Moses Lake, WA; Rita (Allen) Sherwood Smith recently of Ephrata, WA; and Deborah Sherwood Cole of Las Vegas, Nevada; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at the 1849 E. Nelson Road Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The viewing will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 9:45 a.m. before the service. Interment will follow at Guarding Angels Cemetery, 2595 Road L NE. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel & Crematory.