Keith John McClellan

Keith John McClellan

November 23, 1943-March 24, 2024

Keith John McClellan was born November 23, 1943, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and left this life on March 24, 2024, at home in Blanco, Texas.

Keith is predeceased by his father, Jasper Ray McClellan, his mother, Rula LaVina Price McClellan, and his brothers Rulon McClellan and Boyd McClellan.

Keith is survived by his wife and sweetheart, Gail McClellan, his children, Derek McClellan, Shane McClellan (Rachelle), Tara Byrd (Johnie), and Jillian Jolley (Bryan), his stepchildren, Nelson White and Page Warren (Jon), his brothers, JayR McClellan (Beverly) and Dale McClellan (Dana). Keith has fifteen grandchildren: Shanelle, Colt, Stetson, Abela, and Ahanlyn McClellan, Jonathan and Justin Pierce, Kiffani Kilgrow (Hayden), Bryan, Dallin, Heylin and Anson Jolley, and Mikaela, Annabelle, and Everlee Warren. He has one great-granddaughter, Holland Kilgrow.  He was also blessed with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. 

Putting Keith’s life on paper proves difficult as he lived life to its fullest and had many adventures and accomplishments.  Keith never met a stranger and loved all people. A dual citizen (United States and Mexico) most of his life, he loved to travel and see the world and deeply valued getting to know people everywhere he went.  Keith led a life of service to his family, his church, and his community.  He loved the Lord and was a faithful member of the LDS church his entire life.  His library was vast, he especially enjoyed reading about the history of the United States and biographies of his family history. He had the most beautiful bass voice and loved to sing, participating in church and community choirs as often as possible.  He was an avid photographer and loved to write.  Over the years he contributed many articles and columns for local newspapers. Most recently his column ‘Mustard Seeds’ which he began writing for the Van Horn Advocate in the 1980’s, appeared in the Blanco and Johnson City newspapers.  

Throughout his life, Keith valued education, his own and that of others.  He received his high school diploma in 1962 from the Academia Juarez in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua.  Earning an academic scholarship to BYU, Keith graduated in 1968 with a BA in Latin-American Studies, Sociology, Spanish and Secondary Education.  During his undergraduate years, he spent two years as a missionary in Uruguay. Following graduation, Keith spent time in the highlands of Guatemala, doing educational research as well as in Mexico, where he supervised church primary schools across the county. He went on to obtain a Master of Education degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 1974. Keith used his education to improve the lives of students and those who served them. His career included positions at Region 19, being a principal at various high schools, middle schools and elementary schools, Director of Fine Arts and more.  He concluded his educational career as a part time substitute teacher in the Blanco and Johnson City school districts.

Keith dedicated much of his life to scouting.  He worked and became an Eagle Scout. He served in leadership roles in both Mexico and the US. Keith was a life member of the National Eagle Scout Association, held a Master of Commissioner Science degree from Boy Scouts of America and was Woodbadge trained at Philmont Scout Ranch. 

Keith believed that a man should not be critical of what was transpiring in his community and country if he failed to vote or to take an active role in community affairs.  This belief spurred him into public service, serving two terms as Alderman for the town of Horizon City, Texas and three terms as a member of the Blanco City Council in Blanco, Texas.

Upon retirement, Keith became a gentleman farmer helping his wife, Gail, to wrangle goats, horses, cows, chickens, and other livestock in the Texas hill country. He volunteered in the community and always made himself available to help anyone who had a need.

Three of Keith’s most noted characteristics were his sense of humor, his kindness, and his desire to be of service.  So, in lieu of flowers, he would be grateful if you would do a kind deed for someone and make the world a better place.  

Services will be held at the Crofts-Crow funeral home on March 29, 2024, at 11:00 am (visitation from 10-11:00 am same day). His burial will take place at Elysian Burial Gardens in Salt Lake City, Utah.