Keith Ames

Keith Laverne Ames passed away on Sunday, April 29, 2012, at the Wyoming Medical Center due to complications after undergoing heart surgery. Keith was born July 9, 1935, at a farm near Cumbro, just north of Sumner, Nebraska. He was the oldest son of Russell and Dorothy Ames. His parents, along with his younger brother, Kenneth, moved to Wyoming in 1937, when his dad went to work for the railroad. He also lived in Laramie and Cheyenne. The family relocated to Kearney, Nebraska, to be close to his maternal grandparents. Keith lived with his grandparents while attending college at Kearney State. He received his BA and Masters in Business Education from Kearney State College. After becoming a teacher, he returned to Bozeman State College to pursue his Doctorate. Keith was just short of his Doctorate by his Thesis paper. On August 12, 1956, Keith married Harriet Hasbrouck from Elm Creek, Nebraska. Keith was drafted into the Army three years later and was discharged in 1969. Once released from the Army, he taught school in Belgrade, Nebraska, for five years. Their son, Kent, was born in 1962. In 1965 the family moved to Casper, Wyoming, where Keith was a teacher for Natrona County High School. Their daughter, Gayle, was born in 1965. During his teaching career at NCHS, he taught and ran the business department for 23 years. Keith and a friend published the school annual for many years during that time. He also was the first teacher to instruct computer classes in the Natrona County School District. He was also a business instructor at Casper College for five years. In 1989, Keith was the recipient of the Kathleen Hemry Community Service Award. He retired in 1995 after teaching for 35 years, five in Belgrade, Nebraska, and thirty at NCHS. In the summer, he spent his days running Ames Tree Spraying Service for 25 years. The family also owned and operated Ames Texaco on the comer of CY and Poplar, for 12 years. Scouting was an important part of Keith's life for over 50 years. During this time he was a Scoutmaster in Nebraska and after moving to Wyoming, he became the Scoutmaster of Troop l3. He attended three National Boy Scout Jamborees; one as Scoutmaster for the Wyoming Contingent, and two, as Boys Life Staff. Keith received the Frank Morgan award for outstanding Scoutmaster, and also received the Silver Beaver Award. Following retirement, he became involved with Habitat for Humanity and continued until his death. He also was very active as a member of The First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. He served as Deacon, Elder, Sunday School Teacher, Board Chairman, Property Chairman and active on various other commissions and committees. Keith is survived by his wife Harriet, of Casper, WY; his son, Kent and his wife, Jamie, and his daughter, Gayle and her husband, Greg, all of Casper, WY. His six grandchildren, Kade Ames, Shelby Andress, Blake Gamble, Shane Gamble, Jacob Crowder, and Morgan Collums, all of Casper, WY. One brother, Kenneth and wife, Elma of Albion, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Dorothy and his grandparents. Services will be held on Tuesday; May 8th at First Christian Church at 1O:30a.m. A private family burial will precede the services at Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Christian Church, where a fund will be established to send boys in need from Troop l3 to summer camp.

Service

Tuesday, May 8, 2012 10:30am

First Christian Church

520 CY Avenue

Casper, Wyoming 82601