Keith Byrd Willis

Keith Byrd Willis, a devoted husband, father, and public servant, died peacefully at home on October 22, 2025, in Ashburn, Virginia.

Born in 1932 in Laurel, Montana, Keith was the son of Wayne and Fern (Olafson) Willis. His father was a prominent figure in Laurel-the city's first uniformed police officer, later Chief of Police, and eventually the city's Postmaster.

Keith was a noted football and basketball player for the Laurel Locomotives and, along with his brother Wayne, had a reputation for mischief in his younger years. In 1952, Keith was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Thankfully, the war ended while he was still in basic training, and he served in Chicago until 1954 before returning home.

After working on the railroad and bartending, Keith was accepted to the University of Montana, where he studied Business Administration. In 1959, he moved to Washington, D.C., with just a suitcase in hand to begin a job at the U.S. Census Bureau. Not long after arriving, he met Helen Breslin. The two were married in 1962 in Dover, New Hampshire, and went on to share 63 years of marriage. Keith and Helen raised three children-Ann, Janet, and Keith.

Keith later worked at the U.S. Department of Education, rising to the Senior Executive Service, and managing important education programs, including Head Start and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, before retiring in 1993.

A devoted fan of baseball and football, Keith also enjoyed woodworking in his spare time. He was a proud lifelong Democrat and an even prouder liberal.

Keith is survived by his beloved wife Helen, their three children-Ann (Dan Watkins), Janet (Mark Schmitz), and Keith (Miranda Stewart Willis)-and five grandchildren