James (Bus/Buzz) Keith passed away at a care facility in Grants Pass on Thursday, February 15,2024 surrounded by his kids.

He was born on October 16, 1929, at his parents' home on Rapp Lane outside of Talent OR with a mid-wife attending. Bus attended Talent Schools his entire childhood and was active in sports including football and basketball. During World War II when men were scarce, he lied about his age and hired on to log near Prospect when he was 15 years old – he ended up running dozers in the logging operation to the chagrin of his mother! That experience was the forerunner to a career operating equipment in the woods – dozers and graders.

In 1949, he married the love of his life: Myrna Lois Swatzlander. Four children were born to their union: Tim, Norman, Jana, and John. He and Myrna bought an 80-acre place in Evans Valley in 1956; they lived there three years, spent three years on Yank Gulch out of Talent and returned for good to their farm in Evans Valley in 1962, where Bus lived until August of this past year – 61 years!

While logging for several outfits including Milton and Estremado, he embraced farming raising cattle, milking cows and putting up hay for himself and several Evans Valley owners.

Bus was an amazing person. He could mechanic heavy equipment, learned to repair snowmobile hoods, and do body work on cars including his pride: a 1941 Ford coupe – the same model as his first reliable automobile as a young man. He also had horses for himself and his children – and continued to ride well in his 80's. His saddle his entire life was the one he bought when he was a teen and purchased his first horse.

Bus and Myrna purchased a cabin on property near Hyatt Lake in the late 1990's -- there he and his entire family spent many days snowmobiling, and in the spring seeking morel mushrooms. The cabin is still in the family and will remain so.

His wife Myrna passed away in 2003. After several years, he met and married Rachel Louise Long. An illness in late December of 2020 left Rachel incapacitated – she moved in with her daughter and remains there today.

Bus moved to Kinsington at Redwood Park in August of 2023 when full-time caregiving was necessary. There, Hospice, and his nurse Cyndi Miller provided great comfort for him and the family.

Bus is preceded in death by Myrna (his wife of 54 years), son Norman Keith, granddaughter Jessica Artoff, and Alysha Sauter (his son's adopted daughter). Dad is survived by his son Tim (wife Kimberly), daughter Jana Artoff (husband Dennis) and son John (long-time companion Stephanie Sauter); five grandchildren: Justin Keith (wife Ashley), Brent Keith (wife Erin), Stephanie Schneiter (husband Tristan), Jamie Mockridge (husband Brian), Jill Westlake (husband Corey); and John's daughter Trisyena Harris (husband Nick). Bus has 12 great grandchildren.

At his request, there will not be a formal service; his ashes will be split between a place next to Myrna's, and some spread on Big Red Mountain in the high Siskiyou Mountains.