Rickey Don 'Rick' Keck

In Memory of Rick (Rickey Don) Keck March 20, 1947—May 11, 2021

Rick Keck passed away on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at his home in Cortez, Colorado. Rick was born on March 20, 1947 in Nocona, Texas to Donnie Earl and Lena Faye (Reid) Keck. He was the first of three children with two younger brothers: Randy and Joe, the middle and youngest, respectively.
Growing up in Cortez, Colorado, Rick attended grades 3-12 and graduated from Montezuma Cortez High School in 1965. In high school, Rick played football and participated in thespians. He was always a hard worker, even in high school. Rick helped his dad take care of quarter horses and thoroughbreds at the Race Track in Towaoc on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation and on the Colorado Fair Circuit. During high school summers, Rick also worked for Macarado Elevator on West Main Street in Cortez, for Empire Electric Association treating power poles, and for the US Forest Service planting trees on Taylor Mesa. Rick attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado for one year. He then started working with Nielsen’s Incorporated where he would spend the next 20 years working his way to becoming a Construction Superintendent. During this time, Rick worked on road construction, power plants and other construction projects. In 1985, Rick was hired as the General Manager of the Weeminuche Construction Authority and was involved in building several components of the Dolores River Project (Lake McPhee and the Towaoc Canal) as well as many roads and building projects across the Four Corners. After he left Weeminuche in 1997, Rick continued his career in the construction industry. Later, he worked for BWR Constructors, Inc., a division of WESODI, for a few years until he finally retired in 2014.
Rick never knew a stranger, found the fun in everything, and loved life. Wherever he was, there was sure to be a lot of laughter. Rick held a deep love of Colorado, with a passion for outdoor and sport activities such as hunting, fishing, four-wheeling, snowmobiling, calf roping, pistol shooting, boating, golfing, and playing pool. He loved competition in many forms, and his team won the Sheriff’s Posse State Pistol Shoot. Rick also won numerous golf tournaments over the years. He always had to be the leader of just about anything in which he was involved. Whether he was four-wheeling, golfing or snowmobiling, Rick was always out in front. He was also known by his many friends to be a bit of a prankster, to which many can attest. Rick loved his children and grandchildren dearly, and he especially enjoyed entertaining and playing with them. Rick was also involved in a number of political initiatives, notably through his efforts to retain open access to public lands.
Rick met his wife Cathy (Broyles) Keck in 1983. Married in 1985, they celebrated 36 wonderful years of marriage together. Rick is survived by his wife Cathy; his son Kale (Natalie) of Hurst, Texas; his daughters, Kelsey Keck and Lindsay Newcomb of Cortez; Tamra Lemon of Austin, Texas; and brother Joe (Susan) Keck of Cortez; as well as nine grandchildren, Naomi, Caleb, Elainna, Harlow, Rowan, Bonnie, Jobe, Brandon, and Brenna.
To his final day, Rick truly embraced the principle of enjoying life to the fullest. His optimism and enthusiasm provided a shining example for his loved ones to emulate.
A memorial service is planned for July 17, 2021 at the American Legion, from 3-6 PM. Memorial contributions can be made in Rick’s name to the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, Texas 75284.