Keith Wyatt

Waynesville, Walter Keith Wyatt, age 63, of 279 Round Top Road passed away on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at his residence following a two-year battle with Leukemia. A native of Haywood County, he was the son of Ellen Rash Wyatt of Waynesville and the late Walter Wyatt and was also preceded in death by a brother-in-law, John Medford. In 1966, he was a member of the last graduating class of Waynesville Township High School. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later earned a Master of Arts degree and an Educational Specialist Degree from Western Carolina University. He served as an educator in Haywood County for 33 years and was twice named Principal of the Year and served as President of the Principal's Association. He taught two years at Waynesville Junior High School before serving as assistant principal for six years and then accepted principalship at Crabtree-Iron Duff Elementary for five years before returning to Waynesville Junior High School in 1983. Keith retired in 2003 as principal of Hazelwood Elementary School and oversaw the planning and building of the new school on Plott Creek. Throughout Keith's career in education, he always placed the well-being and education of children first and foremost. Keith always asked the question, "Is this good for the child?" He was especially devoted to the Special Olympics every spring. His love for children prompted him to run for Crabtree-Iron Duff's school board seat. He won the seat and was serving a second term at the time of his death. Keith loved his community and was a member and former president of the Waynesville Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He served as president of the Folkmoot Board of Directors and worked as an organizer of the festival for over 20 years. Keith was an avid fisherman and made numerous trips to the Outer Banks near Cape Hatteras and Monk's Corner in South Carolina. However, fishing took second place to his love for UNC athletics, especially the basketball program under the direction of Dean Smith and Roy Williams. Many a game he would pace, move seats, throw his hat, and leave the room ("I just can't watch this anymore."), always to return to cheer on the Tar Heels and claim that it was his antics that brought the victory. Children, whether his own or others, were drawn to Keith's charm and antics, and he never missed an opportunity to entertain or feed them; however, nothing compared to his love of family. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of 40 years, Kathy Medford Wyatt; two daughters, Caroline Parrish and her husband, Mike, of Asheville and Julie Riva and her husband, Tony, of Charlotte; a grandson, William John Riva; one sister, Carmen W. Wilde and her husband, Richard, of Clyde; and four nieces and four nephews. A private family interment service will be held prior to the service. A Service Celebrating Keith's Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville with Reverend Sanford L. Giles, Jr. and Reverend Steve Grindstaff officiating. Following the service, the family will receive friends at a reception at Waynesville Inn Golf Resort and Spa. Memorials may be made The Christmas Fund, c/o Haywood County Schools Foundation, 1230 N. Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786 or the family encourages blood donation to the American Red Cross, 1668 Brown Avenue, Waynesville, NC 28786 or registration for bone marrow donations at bethematch.org.

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