Keith Reid Allred

1925 - 2018

Keith Reid Allred
February 19, 1925 - February 14, 2018
Keith Reid Allred departed this life to join his sweetheart Maurine on Valentine's Day, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018, after 92 years of a remarkable life. Keith was born in his family home Feb. 19, 1925, in Spring City, Utah, to Reid Henderson and Anna Elizabeth (Libbie) Allred. He was the second of five children. As a child he loved to explore the outdoors and play games, and as a youth he played the trumpet. He participated in student government and every sport offered at North Sanpete High School. In addition to being involved in sports, school musicals, chorus and band, he and his friends formed a dance band that became very popular. He performed in a Spring City Trumpet Trio that was well known throughout Sanpete Valley. It was while performing at special programs that he first met Maurine Brady, who was participating in a Fairview Girls Trio.
Following high school Keith enlisted as a cadet in the United States Army Air Corps. After 18 months of training he was commissioned an Air Force officer and pilot. He was assigned as an Advanced Flight Instructor of the B-25 Bomber at Enid Air Force Base in Oklahoma. While on military leave in August 1945, Keith visited his family and dated Maurine. One morning he rented a small airplane and took Maurine for a flight over Sanpete Valley. After a few stalls and spins he leveled off, idled back, and asked Maurine to marry him, and she accepted. As the war ended and Keith was honorably discharged they were married Nov. 14, 1945, in the Manti LDS Temple.
Keith attended Brigham Young University but interrupted his education for two years (June 1948 to August 1950) to accept a LDS mission in the Sandwich (or Hawaiian) Islands, tenderly leaving his beloved wife and young son, Howard. While on this mission he performed with and conducted a Hawaiian missionary dance orchestra. At the end of his missionary service this orchestra participated in the LDS Church's centennial celebration in the Hawaiian Islands, and Keith obtained special permission for Maurine to join him. This became a treasured memory and time of their lives. After returning home from Hawaii he completed his Bachelor of Science degree from BYU (1951) followed by a move to Ithaca, New York, where he attended Cornell University, receiving a Ph.D. in plant science January 1955.
Most of Keith's career was at Utah State University as a professor and associate dean in the College of Agriculture and at the University's Consortium for International Development. His work included foreign assignments for the U.S. government and the United Nations, which included taking his family on a four-year USAID assignment to Bolivia (1967-71). After returning to the United States, Keith received a calling from President Joseph Fielding Smith to serve as mission president in the La Paz Bolivia Mission. He and Maurine returned to Bolivia with their three youngest children to preside over the church and missionaries (1972-75). They felt great affection for their missionaries and have met with them at reunions each year thereafter.
Keith had a deep and abiding love for the Savior, and his life was devoted to his family and to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints. As a disciple of Jesus Christ and a faithful member of the church, Keith served in many capacities including bishop, mission president, a temple mission in the Washington D.C. Temple, Family History Center assistant director, home teacher and others. His service continued into his later years as stake patriarch of the North Logan Green Canyon Stake and as an ordinance worker and sealer in the Logan LDS Temple.
Through the years Keith and Maurine traveled the world extensively, marveling at its wonders and beauty. He was a master gardener and enjoyed spending countless hours tending a large backyard vegetable garden and sharing the abundance of produce with his family and friends. He treasured many associations with dear friends, and many visits with him included a good joke. His passion for sports and music continued throughout his life. But his greatest joy was felt in the love he had for each member of his family. Oh, how he loved his family!
Keith was a dear father to his six children (and their spouses): Howard Keith (Debbi) Allred of Centerville, Utah; Karen (Reid) Herd of North Logan, Utah; Elaine (Carl) Blackham of Kaysville, Utah; Janice (Bill) Harten of Kaysville, Utah; Helen (Loren) Ashcraft of Centerville, Utah; and Beth Ann (Berkeley) Geddes of Gilbert, Arizona. He is loved by 28 grandchildren and 64 great-grandchildren. Keith was preceded in death by his beloved sweetheart Maurine in March 2009 and by his sister Alta Allred Larsen in March 2007. Other living family members include three siblings, Ruel Acord Allred, Wallace Earl Allred and Lenore Allred Johansen.
Viewing will be at Allen Mortuary, 420 E. 1800 North, North Logan, Utah, from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018.
Funeral services are scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. Feb. 19, 2018, at the North Logan 2nd Ward chapel, 1105 E. 2100 North, North Logan, Utah, with a viewing prior from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Interment will be in the Spring City, Utah, Cemetery.
The Allred family would like to thank the medical professionals who provided service to Keith and the family. We also express our thanks to the North Logan 2nd Ward for their love and service at this time and to the many friends and family who have loved and supported Dad through the years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Keith R. and Maurine B. Allred Scholarship Endowment in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Utah State University through Brandon P. Monson.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net.