Extracted from The Sun-News (Las Cruces, NM)
Sunday, February 22, 2009

Keith Charles Wilson

Poet Keith Charles Wilson died Feb. 10, 2009, at the Mesilla Valley Hospice at 81 years old. He was born in Clovis, N.M., on Dec. 26, 1927. His mother's family came from Washington. D.C., and homesteaded in Fort Sumner in territorial New Mexico in 1906. His mother, Marjorie Valentine Edwards, married his father, Earl Wilson, there.

Keith's loves in life were family, friends, writing and teaching. These all melded into his poetry, musically recording his own histories, our life together, his joys with our children, political, cultural and ecological concerns. Everything in his life became words on the page. He loved music, mysteries, animals, the seas, the desert, camping, movies, food, wine, travel, pens, books and storytelling. He also loved the diversity and cultural richness of his native state.

Keith graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1950 and within that month, received orders to Korea, where he served three tours of duty on various vessels including the Valley Forge and a L.S.T. (which he called a “long slow target.”) Keith also attended, UNM where he received his master's degree in English and completed coursework for his Ph.D. He and Heloise, his wife of 51 years, married in Corrales on Feb. 15, 1958, and had a family of four children.

Keith retired from the NMSU English Department in 1987, determined to have more time for his writing. Keith received many outstanding awards for his writings and teaching. “Shaman of the Desert,” a compilation of his 40-plus “out of print” books of poetry will soon be released by Clark City Press.

Keith is survived by our four children and their families: Kathy and Walt Fox of Bloomington, Ind.; Kristin and Ryne Palombit of Plainsboro, N.J.; Kevin and Dana Wilson of Las Cruces; Kerrin Wilson of Las Cruces. Our eight grandchildren are: Diana and Daniel Fox; Spencer and Marco Palombit; Jeremiah, Kendra and Kayla Wilson; and James Nance. Keith's sister, Marjorie Ann Russell, lives in Sugarland, Texas; our nephew and his family also live there; and our niece and her family live in Reno, Nev.

Our gratitude goes out to the staff on the sixth floor of MMC and to the staff at Mesilla Valley Hospice. Keith's care was tender and totally considerate. Our family is grateful. In lieu of flowers, please send a contribution to Mesilla Valley Hospice, 299 E. Montana Ave., Las Cruces, N.M. 88005.

A service celebrating Keith's life will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009, at 4:30 p.m. at the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 518 N. Alameda Blvd., Las Cruces, N.M.

Goodbye, my sweet.

Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels and Baca's Sunset Crematory, 300 E. Boutz Road, Las Cruces; (575) 527-2222.