KEITH CONNETT RUSSELL IV June 12, 1983 – May 12, 2015
June 12, 1983 – May 12, 2015 Keith Connett Russell IV, 31 years old, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
Keith was born on June 12, 1983, in Birmingham, Alabama. Keith attended Indian Springs School and graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a Master’s Degree in Computer Technology.
He worked diligently for the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Department of Energy as a contract employee where he created a groundbreaking program to protect the environment from nuclear waste that is now in demand in other countries.
After living in California and then New Mexico, he moved back to Birmingham working remotely because he missed his family. Keith was a devoted and dearly loved son, brother, uncle, and friend. He was loved by all who knew him. His life mission was to use his gifts to full capacity. He was selfless to the point that he would deny his own needs. His heart was full of generosity and he cared most about the needs of others. He provided funds to an organization to build a well in an undeveloped country so they could have fresh drinking water.
He lived without fear, allowing him to experience life with spontaneity. His humility allowed others to feel at ease with him and he did not boast about his intelligence or accomplishments. He had an innocence about him that caused others to trust him. He was genuine and creative and used his gifts in his personal life and professional career. He had a unique sense of humor that others admired.
He enjoyed traveling the world, and exploring God’s magnificent creation. His last and final trip was to Colombia, South America where he suddenly and unexpectedly died on a mountain trail. We know that God’s grace met him at that hour. He died with his close friend, Matt Conlen, praying for him at his side. He died doing what he loved most, appreciating the life that God had given him.
His death reminds us that tomorrow is not promised and yesterday you can never get back. We will hold our precious Keith deeply in our hearts. His favorite scripture was Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid.”
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother Ann Sherrill and paternal grandfather Keith Connett Russell Jr.; Keith is survived by his mother, Lynn Russell-Davis (Steven Davis), his father, Keith Connett Russell, III, his brothers, Dr. Brad Russell (Anne Russell) and Brook Russell (Celine Russell), sister Rachel Russell (fiance Stephan Meadors), nieces Elaine and Emily Russell, nephews Robby and Pace Russell, maternal grandfather Billy Sherrill, paternal grandmother Carrol Crocker (Bill Crocker, deceased), step-sisters Anna and Grayson Davis, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, his companion Ember Pugliese, and dear friend Matt Conlen.
Services will be held at Church of the Highlands Chapel, Grants Mill Campus, on Thursday, May 21st at 11 am. Steve Blair will officiate. In lieu of flowers; donations to Neverthrist Inc. at http://www.neverthirstwater.org and Transformation Ministries at transformationranch.org – Shipley fund are suggested.
