Keith R. Gerard
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 4 - January 15, 2004
KEITH GERARD REMEMBERED FOR KNOWLEDGE, FRIENDSHIP.
Gypsum rancher knew every inch of Hardscrabble. -- Special to the Enterprise.
Keith R. GERARD, 77, of Gypsum, died Jan. 7 at Palisade Living Center.
Keith was a life-long resident of Gypsum. He was born Jan.8., 1926, to Loyd A. and Ora E. (Carr) GERARD in their ranch house, three miles south of Gypsum. His grandmother, Lulu CARR, delivered Keith and helped in his care for the first months of his life. Most of his education was received at the "Upper Gypsum: School, where he graduated from the eighth grade.
Keith was a life-long rancher, and the oldest of four brothers. Although he was never married, he loved life, caring for the cattle, his chickens, and the horses.
His niece, Anna GERARD, recalls that Keith was happiest when he was riding the hills after cows. He had a distinct style, and was never in a hurry.
"He taught me not to push cows. 'Let the cows set the pace, and always keep mom and baby together, If you don't they turn back'," says Anna, recalling her uncle's instructions.
Fellow rancher and Gypsum resident Norman NUNN recalls that Keith knew every cow trail, deer trail, and spring on Hardscrabble Mountain.
"Any time you had an opportunity to ride Hardscrabble with Keith, you got some education," says NUNN, "He was one of the best characters. I mean that in the best sense you can imagine. He was one of the hardest working guys I ever worked with." Relatives say Keith was always ready to help out, no matter what the task.
Keith was generous to a fault. When ranch hands were out working cattle all day, Keith would pack enough lunch in a gunny sack for everybody.
Early in his life he would travel to town to sell his eggs and potatoes, raised on the ranch. Egg day was very special to him, visiting with all his customers and catching up on all the "news." This was a day well spent. He was a friend to all, and would visit with anyone who was willing to chat for a while.
Relatives say Keith was the kind of man who knows no stranger. He would always visit with anyone who had the time to talk; and if he met people on the road, he always gave them a smile and a friendly wave. He sent out cards for every holiday, and never forgot a family member.
The life-long bachelor enjoyed his nieces and nephews; and when the great-nephews and nieces came along, he was even more pleased. Keith very seldom called his young relatives by name; but rather referred to them as "little friends."
Niece Missy (Gerard) FORD of Eagle remembers helping her Uncle Keith with his chickens. He'd order the birds in the spring, and the baby chicks would be shipped to the post office in cardboard boxes.
"Everyone in the family just thought that hose chicks were noisy, but Keith and I knew that they were just happy," recalls Missy.
Keith loved moving cattle from pasture to pasture on the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service permits.
In the later years of his life, his favorite horse was "Nugget." Keith and Nugget were a special team, and had a knack for rounding up stray cattle only they could find.
NUNN recalls the time Keith broke a leg. With his leg in a cast, he never missed a day of gathering cattle. Keith figured out a way to ride without putting the broken foot in the stirrup. In fact, even after the leg healed, he kept it out of the stirrup, cocked at an odd angle.
Keith doctored as many cattle in a day as any cowboy; only he never used a rope.
Dinner for Keith was meat and potatoes, and there needed to be plenty, especially the potatoes and gravy. Niece Anna remembers one time she attempted to cook hamburger gravy for her uncle's lunch. She added too much flour, and the gravy set up like a rock. Even the dog refused to eat it.
"Uncle Keith told everyone what a great cook I was...to this day when I try something new and it doesn't turn out, I think of that gravy and the way that poor dog looked at it. In Uncle Keith's eyes, if you tried, you did a great job," she recalls.
A pitchfork and shovel were his best working tools.He never understood mechanical things. He did manage to drive an old pick up truck; but rarely at speeds beyond 25 mph, recalls NUNN. Keith took pride in his flood irrigation abilities and could set a dam in any ditch. He was admired for his ability to take a small amount of water and produce an outstanding hay crop.
"He just lived for his work. A lot of people, when they think of cowboys, the only people that come to mind are the guys that hit the rodeo arena, but he was a real cowboy. He knew how to handle and work cattle. He was the guy that kept the livestock industry alive," says NUNN.
Keith lived with his brother, Claude, later in life. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Clayton (Mike) GERARD and Roland (Andy) GERARD.
Survivors include a brother, Claude, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the church of your choice. Services were held on Monday, Jan. 12, at the United Methodist Church in Gypsum.
Vail Daily - January 18, 2004
LOCAL RANCHER REMEMBERED.
Gypsum's Keith GERARD knew every inch of Hardscrabble. -- Special to the Daily.
[same as Eagle Valley Enterprise obituary]