Edward Donald Keys III

Edward Donald Keys III (Ned Keys), age 65, passed away at his home Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - three months after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.



Ned, son of Dorothy Aiken Miller and Edward Donald Keys Jr., was born July 29, 1941 in Sandusky Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1965 with a BA in business and a teaching certificate in marketing. After graduation, Ned taught a marketing high school course in Madison Heights until 1968. His love for sailing and skiing brought him to Harbor Springs. Ned spent his summers working at Irish Boat Shop and his winter weekends at Nubs Nob working first as a member of the National Ski Patrol from 1961-1972 and then as a ski instructor (Professional Ski Instructors of America - Level III).

Characteristic of Ned’s life philosophy, he took a year off to fulfill one of his goals when he sailed his 33’ boat, Ishtar, through the inland waterway, to the Bahamas, and back. Returning in 1976, Ned decided to make Harbor Springs his home: he married in 1980, had two children, worked at Bahnhof Sports until 1985, and then at the Outfitter until 2005. Ned contributed to the community with many endeavors: he organized the annual Moose jaw cross-country Loppett and the Surfin Safari, helped plan the Zoll Street Beach and SK8 Skate Park, and helped introduce kayaking to the area. Ned began and coordinated the Harbor Springs Snowboard Team from 2001 to 2006, he also taught snowboarding at Boyne Highlands in 2005.

Filled with the entrepreneurial spirit, Ned started and ran a number of venture business projects: Chandelle of Harbor Springs, Bay Computers, Sunsational Tanning, and Windsurf Harbor Springs. The last, established in 2001, was the manifestation of Ned’s desire to support and promote his favorite sport through sales, lessons, and rentals. A veritable pied piper, Ned also planned and led friends to numerous windsurfing hot spots; destinations such as Aruba, Bonaire, Cape Hatteras, the Gorge, Margarita, Maui, and South Padre. His was never an attitude of show; rather, Ned wished to share his enjoyment of the sport and demonstrate where the next challenge lay.

Ned was actively teaching windsurfing and kayaking with his son until late in June 2006, when he became ill. Ned’s passion for adventure was contagious, he lived every minute of his life to the fullest; he will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Ned is survived by his mother, Dorothy Miller; his children, Aaron and Hilary; his stepson, Jamie Walker; and their mother, Debbie Keys; stepsisters, Claudia Federer and Linda Miller of Cleveland Ohio, and Rosemary Gordon of Tucson, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his father, E. Donald Keys Jr.; stepmother, Marion Hrebek Keys; and stepfather, Cliff Miller.

A Memorial Service will be held at Nub’s Nob this Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006, at 4pm. Reverend Charles Stuart will conduct the service. Immediately following the Memorial Service, a celebration of Ned’s life will be held. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to “The Edward Donald Keys III LIV TR CO Aaron Keys TTEE.” Alternatively, contributions may be made directly to the following organizations on behalf of Ned Keys: Hospice of Little Traverse Bay, H.S. Snowboard Team and H.S. Sk8 Park.