Always a farm boy at heart, William Keith Waite grew to become the larger-than-life gentle giant his children and grandchildren relied on. Keith passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones, on July 17, 2026, at the age of 85. His legacy of selfless service and meaningful connection will endure in all who knew and loved him.

Growing up in St. Johns, Arizona, instilled in Keith a love for the outdoors that shaped him into the down-to-earth, goofy, fun-loving father and grandfather who valued hard work and honest reliability. Although he eventually worked diligently in an office as an accountant to support his family, his heart always remained in the Arizona high desert, where he spent his childhood riding horses, exploring, and causing the kind of mischief that only small-town boys can appreciate. His first foray into the world beyond home was as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern States Mission, where he preached the gospel in the Chicago, Illinois, area. After returning, he graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

While attending an astronomy class at BYU, Keith encountered Stella Smith, whom he considered much more outgoing and flirtatious than she initially considered him. She immediately noticed that he was very tall, slim, and handsome, but believed him to be rather stuck-up. After all, he answered her obvious attempts to get to know him with only “yes” or “no” answers. Eventually, they went on their first date to get ice cream, followed by several more outings during which they decided they did not like each other very much. After some time apart, they gave things another try, only to reach the same conclusion. The third time was the charm. They went out a few more times, and Stella finally realized that the man she had mistaken for aloof was actually a shy country boy whom she would later call her “tall, lean machine.” Despite his best efforts to teach her to ride, she never did develop a love for horses. Fortunately, she had already fallen for the farm boy who rode them. They were married on August 17, 1965, and sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple. At the time of his passing, they had been together for just under 61 years.

Keith walked away from his dreams of ranching to dedicate himself to a career he knew would support his new family. Being stuck in an office as an auditor was not his idea of a good time, but his wife and daughters recognized the sacrifices he made on their behalf. After Stella required major neck surgery during their marriage, Keith spent the next several months caring for his wife. She remembered that even after long days at work, he would come home to dutifully cook, clean, and care for her and their children. He was an exemplar of service, a responsible husband and father who devoted himself wholeheartedly to those who depended on him.

Carving out a comfortable life for his family included purchasing a home on half an acre in sunny Citrus Heights, California. There, he embraced his passion for the outdoors by cultivating a beautiful garden full of vegetables and fruit trees. After retiring, he spent his days carefully planting, nurturing, and tending a wide assortment of produce, which he eagerly shared with friends, relatives, and neighbors. Always busy, Keith could be found tackling an assortment of projects around the yard, whether he was building a shed, hauling materials for raised planters, pruning or cutting down overgrown trees, or maintaining a swimming pool for his grandchildren to enjoy. He did all of this with an incredibly dry sense of humor that often cracked him up more than it did anyone else. His sarcastic wit was something his family came to eagerly anticipate, making him equal parts loving and mischievous. Whether he was giving them one of his many nicknames, seizing unexpected opportunities to push them into the pool, or chasing them in circles around the house while playing “monster,” he related especially well to his grandchildren because he was a kid at heart himself.

Underlying Keith’s devotion to his family was a deep conviction in his faith. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he extended that same generosity to those in need within his congregation. His commitment took many forms, from mowing a widow’s lawn to faithfully working in the temple each week for 25 years. Even when it meant commuting several hours from Citrus Heights to Oakland early in the morning, Keith could always be counted on to show up.

Keith is survived by his loving wife, Stella Smith Waite, and his daughters Sheri Ostrom (David), Robyn Roseborough, and Shamay Bartlett (Jake). He is reunited in heaven with his daughters Michelle Waite Nissen and April Waite, his parents Joy and Ida Waite, and his siblings George Waite and Janice Wakefield. He leaves behind 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They will remember him fondly for the personal bonds he formed with each of them. He took time to speak with them individually and, in both quiet and loud ways, created relationships they will never forget. A trip to Grandpa’s house always meant waking up to pancakes and his famous freezer jam, made from fruit they had helped him pick from the garden.

A memorial service honoring Keith will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS chapel located at 8056 Oak Ave., Citrus Heights, California 95610. The ceremony will be livestreamed at: https://zoom.us/j/97613438431?pwd=dkZPV0pwNjFjNXVJSUQrYXkwVnVpUT09.

There will not be a viewing or graveside service at this time. The family encourages you to honor Keith’s memory by planting something, helping a neighbor, or telling someone that they “make a better door than a window” every chance you get.