Keith Murray Price, age 74, of Eagle, passed away peacefully at his home on November 1, 2011 with his family, friends and neighbors by his side, after a courageous battle with cancer and COPD.

Keith was born on January 1, 1937 in Los Angeles, California to Doris Disney Price and Daniel Price. Keith attended high school in Elmonte, California. As a teenager, he spent his summers with his brother Kenneth at the family farm in Ellis, Kansas. On the farm he learned the discipline it takes for a hard days work. He said that young people should spend at least a year working on a farm to learn the value of work.

Keith will always be remembered for the mischievous twinkle in his eye, for the inquisitive tilt to his head, for his intelligence, and his off-center sense of humor. There are many stories of him and his adventures.

Keith was an avid reader. He had one eye on the news at all times Fox News in particular and stayed current on politics and world events. He was a lover of animals and relished his time with his two dogs, Mickey and Jax who followed him everywhere. He was an eternal optimist always having a smile on his face and a funny witty joke at the tip of his tongue. It was no secret that he was the person to go to for advise, insight or just to share a glass of red wine or fine scotch. He enjoyed the small but finer things in life; jazz music, attending his grand kids sporting events, eating BBQ, witnessing his grandchildren riding their bikes for the first time, attending music concerts and dance recitals, family gatherings, and Boise State football games.

Keith said on more than one occasion that he had lived a full and wonderful life, that he had great kids, that he loved his wife and that he wouldnt change a thing. Close to his death, he commented that he had lived his bucket list; something many of us aspire to but never achieve.

Keiths passion for building things started early where he spent much of his time working in a mechanics shop during high school. That passion led Keith to pursue his profession as a civil engineer, project manager and construction guru. Keith spent his entire working career in the engineering and construction industry. After attending community college in California studying electrical engineering, he worked for the Paul Hardeman Company as a test engineer. In 1965, he started his long-term employment with Morrison-Knudsen Company (MK) a company that at the time was one of the largest international engineering and construction contractors in the world. In the early years, Keith and his family moved around the country so that he could perform his duties. His work included the Vertical Assembly Building at Cape Kennedy Space Center in Florida, managing mechanical work at the Idaho Engineering Laboratories in Idaho Falls and managing the installation of complicated mechanical and electrical systems and systems start up on the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles installed in North Dakota.

Keith moved his family to Boise, Idaho in 1971 where he established a mechanical division at MKs headquarters. He was promoted to Vice President in 1974 and during his tenure, oversaw the successful award of a $264 million project contracted by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the largest award of its kind at that time. Also during this time, Keith challenged the undergraduate program at Pepperdine University and earned his Masters of Business Administration degree in 1976. In 1978, Keith was named President of MKs Power Group, where he managed construction of coal fired and nuclear power production facilities. During this time, he assisted in establishing the Business Round Tables Construction Industry Institute now housed at the University of Texas.

His responsibilities at MK continued to expand when he was promoted to Executive Vice President and made a member of the Board of Directors at MK. In addition to the Power Group, he was responsible for MK Ferguson, the industrial arm of the company and the business unit designed to build complex industrial and chemical plants (as well as a few Anheuser Bush breweries). With a leadership change to MKs Chief Executive position, Keith was called upon again to take on even more responsibility this time, managing Morrison Knudsen Engineers in San Francisco, CA and the Environmental Group in Boise. Keith left MK in 1990 after a very successful career to move to a new phase in his life, the "Chunnel", where as Operations Manager/Director, he supervised over 700 craftsmen from both England and France to complete the very complicated and construction marvel, the underwater tunnel connecting these two countries.

Keiths management style was unique. He defined it as "management by walking around", a concept new to someone managing in the 1970s/80s. He never considered himself "special" because of his position or title. On a regular basis, he would walk around and chat with all levels of employees including janitors, cafeteria workers, and security guards. He regarded them as important as those employees holding more crucial roles and his premise was that he put his pants on one leg at a time just like them. He was a good judge of character, amazing teacher, and had the uncanny ability to surround himself with top notch people and he assigned absolute responsibility and authority and quietly watched them perform. In 1994, Keith was honored by his construction industry peers for Outstanding Achievement in Heavy Engineering and Construction. From 1997 to 2000, he was named CEO of ICF Kaiser International in Richmond VA. Keith finally retired in Boise, ID where he concluded his part time career as member of the Board of Directors at both ICF Kaiser and US Ecology.

While working for Morrison Knudsen, Keith met and briefly dated Georganne McDowell Slifer, but their particular love story was not yet to be fully written. In 1997, after reconnecting in Boise, Keith and Georganne were married. Georganne was the love of his life, his soul mate and his faithful companion. Hand in hand, they supported each other through the joys of life. They enjoyed numerous trips together including the beaches of Mexico, touring the Panama Canal and Europe and taking many cruises. They witnessed together the births of their grandchildren, and the joy that these things brought them. Their home was often filled to bursting with all of the children and grandchildren, cooking, talking, laughing and eating together. Keith and Georganne were also together for the sorrows of life; the stresses of moving eight times during the first year of marriage, the care and deaths of beloved family members including Keiths mother, Georgannes parents and her aunt. During Keiths illness, Georganne was faithfully at his side and cared for him all the while trying to be as light hearted as possible despite knowing that her Keith would be leaving her behind.

Keith was a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle. He was outwardly dependable, rational, logical, and funny. And while his extraverted disposition and edgy humor would sometimes embarrass his children, they came to love and respect that trait. He trusted everyone, questioned no one and accepted his loved ones for the people they are. The memories are abundant and cherished he is without doubt leaving an empty place for many people.

Keith is survived by his wife Georganne, his daughter Victoria Price and son Alex Price, his daughter Paige Grooms, husband Mike Grooms and grandsons Matthew and Nicholas, Piper Hyman, husband Andrew and grandsons Daniel and Gabriel and Keitra Gallegos, husband Rick and granddaughters Bailey and Tate, as well as his step children, Jeffrey McDowell Slifer, wife Coles and granddaughters Nena Infante, Nenas son Carter, and Lily Slifer, Kimberly Thompson, husband Jason and grandchildren Mazzie and Lux, and Kendall Neilson, husband Mark, and grandchildren Taylor and Cole.

Words cannot express how much the many people who love and respect Keith will deeply miss him. He in turn, was deeply appreciative of the visits from family and friends, the meals, cards, flowers and emails, the loving care of his physicians, nurses, and hospice workers and especially the wet noses of his devoted dogs in his hands.

Occasionally, someone comes along who defies normalcy,Keith is one such person he is so unique, and special in so many ways. Memorial donations and remembrances may be made in his name directly to the Idaho Humane Society, 4775 Dorman Street, Boise, ID 83705.

A celebration of Keiths life will be held at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise. Services are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel.

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