Keith Cloyd McPhail

Keith Cloyd McPhail, born June 5, 1952 to Marven and Lillie “Ellen” (Crane) McPhail. Keith was number six in line of eight siblings. At the age of 72 on July 23, 2024, Keith passed away at the Ashland Health Center.

Keith graduated from Ashland High School with the class of 1970. Keith was drafted into the Army in September 1972, which was the last draft in Clark County. He took basic training in Ft Ord, California and then stationed in Ft. Hood, Texas. He later served in Aschatenburg, Germany, and Ft. Carson, Colorado. Keith was honorably discharged in 1979.

After his military service, Keith had many careers including auto body repair work, auto front end alignments, farm jobs, welding, and in 2018, he retired from Cargill Solar Salt Plant in Freedom, Oklahoma after ten years of service.

Keith married Charlotte Stinson on January 3, 1973 and to this union Crystal Dawn, Michelle Ann, and Justin Keith were born. Keith and Charlotte later divorced.

Keith met Dedra York in 1988. After dating for four years, they were married on June 25, 1992 at Ashland, KS. They made their home in Protection, KS. Together they enjoyed fishing, camping, and Nascar racing. Keith was an avid outdoorsman. He loved fishing, hunting, gardening, and cutting wood for his fire pit. He loved to attend the Nascar races at the Texas Motor Speedway. He would boast that he was there when Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his first race. After retirement he took up watching old reruns of Gunsmoke and other old classics.

Keith is survived by his wife Dedra, daughters Crystal Smeltzer, Davenport, IA, and Michelle Nebel (Cory), Liberty, MO, son Justin McPhail (Crystal) Bartlesville, OK, eight grandchildren, Kayla, Alec, Chase, Mason, Michelle, Olivia, Hayden, and Declan, and great grandson Theodore. Sisters Ann McMurphy, Liberal, KS, Deana Leterle, Wichita, KS, Janna Thornton (Richard) Dodge City, KS, brothers VC McPhail, Cimarron, KS, David McPhail (Marlyn) Buffalo, OK, and Bruce McPhail (Robin) Ashland, KS. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Beverly York, Ashland, KS, sister in-law Kena Jackson (Darren) Coldwater, KS, brother in-law Tom Betschart, Ashland, KS and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents, sister Virginia Betschart, brother in-law Mick McMurphy, sister in-law Sharon McPhail, and father-in-law Kenneth York.