Keith Tish, 85

Keith Tish, 85 of rural Deep River, passed away Saturday evening, January 27, 2024 at the Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at the Gibson Presbyterian Church. Burial will be held in the Sixteen Cemetery near Thornburg. Visitation will begin after 12:00 pm Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma with the family present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Gibson Presbyterian Church or Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.

Keith Dale Tish was born on March 23, 1938 at home on a farm in Iowa County only one-half mile from where he and Janice lived. He was the son of Floyd and Mary Elnora (Caudle) Tish. Keith attended all twelve years of school at Thornburg where he played basketball and baseball and graduated with the class of 1955.  He was a loyal member of the Thornburg and Tri-County Alumni Associations.  Keith was a passionate farmer, beginning right out of high school to farm for George Wilson, Jr., along with farming with his father and brothers. On January 1, 1960 Keith married his neighbor girl, Janice Huffman, daughter of Elvin and Irene Walter Huffman.  They purchased their farm that same year from the Wilsons.  Keith and Janice became the parents of three daughters:  Vicki (Brad) Crosser, Brenda Tish-Haller and Marcy (Doug) Pate.  They also have eight grandchildren:  Kari Lynn (Jason) Reeves, Alexus (Ajay) Cave, Joseph Haller, Chelsea (Tyler) Van Sickle, Lindsy (Michael) Covey, Emily Crosser, Kaitlynn Pate (Eric Fischer), and Drew Pate.  They also have nine great grandchildren.

Along with farming on his own and with his father and brothers, Keith milked cows, fed out feeder pigs and cattle.  He also farmed land for Harry and Mary Slack, Elsie and Shirley Bonnater, and Marvin Campbell at various times over the years.  He raised corn and soybeans and made hay using his big, round baler doing some custom baling as well as his own. Keith was a member of the Gibson Presbyterian Church where he served as a trustee and an elder.  He was also a member of the What Cheer Lions Club.  Keith’s hobby was his old tractors that he had been restoring.  He was especially proud of his 560 International that his father had purchased along with an identical one with consecutive serial numbers that his brother, Arlo, had owned.  He enjoyed going on tractor rides.  He also took special pride in his 1958 Impala Chevrolet that he bought new when he and Janice were dating and he had it when they were married.  Four years ago, he had it restored for their 60th anniversary.  He enjoyed showing it at car shows and regretted that his health didn’t permit him to show it more.  

Keith was preceded in death by his mother and father; his grandparents; his brothers, Marvin and Arlo; sister, Lois Gay and sister-in-law, Verla (Bates) Tish.  

Keith is survived by his wife, Janice; his children and their spouses; his grandchildren and spouses; great grandchildren; sister, Helen and husband, Roger Edmundson; sister-in-law, Pat Tish; brother-in-law, Junior Gay and numerous nieces and nephews.