Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

(From the Jan. 13, 2005 edition of the Inland Register)

Plagued by a variety of cancer-related illnesses in his last years, Gordon Keys, 85, died at the Jesuit infirmary on the campus of Gonzaga University on Jan. 6, 2005.

The rosary and funeral Mass both took place at Jesuit House Chapel, Spokane, on Jan. 10. The burial took place the next day in the Jesuit cemetery at Mt. St. Michael, Spokane.

Born in Seattle in 1919, and after early years in Sausalito, Calif., his family settled in Portland, Ore. when he was 10.

After high school, Keys attended the University of Portland and Seattle University. Before reaching graduation, he entered the Novitiate for the Society of Jesus in Sheridan, Ore., in 1942. He studied philosophy at Mt. St. Michaels and did his regency at Seattle Preparatory School. After his theology studies at Alma College in California and tertianship in Port Townsend, Wash., he was ordained a priest in Spokane June 18, 1955.

His first priestly responsibilities included raising funds for the fledgling Jesuit High School in Portland and teaching in Fairbanks, Alaska. Beginning in 1958, he spent seven years working in Native American ministry, as a teacher and pastor in Omak and Nespelem, Wash. The next three years were spent teaching English and Religion at Jesuit High in Portland before he returned to parish work at St. Luke, in Woodburn, Ore.

He spent 30 years as a hospital chaplain in the Northwest. Even though officially retired, he went on to serve as chaplain for the Holy Names Convent at Marylhurst, Ore., for another 10 years.

In 2000, he moved to the Regis Community in Spokane. Even there, he would not simply rest, but took as much weekday and weekend supply work in the area as he could.

Though his friends knew him as forgetful, disorganized and regularly missing stoplights, his fellow Jesuits remember most his diligence, his happiness to serve others, and his favorite phrase: “That’s a plus!”

Donations in memory of Father Keys may be sent to the Jesuit Senior Fund, P.O. Box 86010, Portland, OR 97286.