Keith Gale Farnam Obituary (1931 - 2025)

Born Oct 24, 1931, Keith Gale Farnam was faculty at Eisenhower High School in Yakima, WA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Keith Gale Farnam.

School Role	Faculty
Date of Birth	Oct 24, 1931
Date of Passing	Jan 21, 2025
About	Keith Gale Farnam Obituary Keith was born in Salem Oregon to Lester and Mabel (Hudson) Farnam. He went to school in Salem (Englewood, Parrish, and Salem High). He graduated in 1949, spending more time playing baseball and basketball than studying. Keith went onto the University of Oregon, where he joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and ultimately became co-captain of the Duck basketball team. After graduating UO in 1954, he put his ROTC skills to use and served in the US Army. He spent time in Virginia Beach and San Antonio before settling at Fort Lewis WA. In 1956 Keith started his teaching and coaching career at Grant- Union high school in John Day, OR. He moved to Yakima 1958, working at Eisenhower for the next 30 years. Many students remember Mr. Farnam teaching "bone head" math, PE, and Drivers Ed. He was proud to have been head coach for baseball, basketball, boys and girls tennis, softball, and cross country. He was also IKE Athletic Director for 10 years. Keith officiated all over the valley, and even worked state final games in football, baseball, and basketball. He retired in 1988, but continued to organize and "coach" his friends and family until he died. Keith was able to live out his dreams because of the love and support of a girl he met in Junior High, Barbara Zumwalt. They married in college, had a son while in the service, had a daughter as his career started, then had another son when they moved to Yakima. He is predeceased by his parents, and his brother Don; his wife and his two sons, Roger and Michael; his grandson Calvin; and his nephew Tom. He is survived by his daughter, Alison, her daughter Kimberly and son Julian. Keith died in Yakima and will make one more trip to his beloved Oregon, where he will be buried in Salem in the Spring. At his request, made over and over, there will be no service. Wear your green and yellow and get together with friends and teammates to toast the man, the coach, the neighbor. Go Ducks! Donations may be made in his honor to the IKE Athletic Department, 611 S 44th Ave, Yakima 98908.