Keith Edward Whipple

How do you measure one man’s life? Is it by how many grandchildren he has sired? How much money he has made? What have been his contributions to present society? In the case of Keith Whipple, born February 14, 1922, it would be what he contributed not just to present society, but to future generations. His last contribution was to plant over 2000 trees on his ranch, inventing a way to water them to insure their survival for the first three years, and fabricating a specialized auger to plant them. This was all done in his early nineties. He also put his ranch into a conservation easement in his late eighties to preserve open spaces for future generations of all species. In his fifties, he was one of the key players in developing the Scott Valley Plan to keep the valley floor open for agriculture and scenic beauty. He also helped to get the first health clinic started in the valley and served for a number of years on the Etna Elementary School board. An innovator all of his life, he used scrap metal and ironing boards to invent a cucumber picker in his early thirties. He fabricated much of the equipment he used ranching. In 1957, when the land taxes and influx of population grew too high to stay on the family farm on Whipple Road in the Bay Area, he moved the ranching operation to Scott Valley. Keith always had some project going. An avid tennis player, outdoorsman, world traveler, and vegetable connoisseur, his love of the mountains and open spaces was evident in everything he did. Keith and his wife, Harrie, just celebrated 70 wonderful years together on June 27th, 2018. He is also survived by his children Jennifer Whipple, Millie Whipplesmith Plank, and Keith W. (Kip) Whipple: his grandchildren Amanda Schmalenberger, Ian Smith, Emilie Smith, Elizabeth Whipple, and Abigail Whipple and great grandchildren Liam and Greta Schmalenberger. Adored by his family, he passed away on August 3, 2018 and will be much missed. Keith's life will be celebrated with an Open House on Saturday, September 15, 2018 from 1-3:30PM at Keith and Harrie’s home, 1700 Eastside Road in Etna. Hope to see you there! Contributions in his name may be made to Siskiyou Land Trust or Madrone Hospice.

Keith Edward Whipple

February 14, 1922 - August 3, 2018