Keith Alan Carlson

   Keith Carlson passed away Dec. 22, 2024, in his tent located in the river bottom just off Sanchez Rd. in Safford, Az. Keith had no permanent home but had lived in the Safford Valley for at least the past three years. He was found dead the morning of Dec. 22 by his friend, Bonnie Nandino, when she went to pick him up for a Christmas program they had planned to attend at the Samaritan Home.

   Keith was born and attended school in Minnesota. His parents were Eland and Doris Carlson. Keith's father passed away some 50 years ago and his mother in 2009. He had a brother, Dennis, and a sister, Dianne. Keith never married but was a U.S. Army veteran. After leaving Minnesota in the early 1990's, he lived in various places, most recently in the Deming, N.M. area where he was a partner in a pecan orchard, and also in Benson, Az. 

   Keith was a quiet man, reluctant to talk about himself, thus many of the details of his life are incomplete or unknown. He enjoyed reading and also did a little sketching. At the time of his death he was not in regular contact with any members of his family. Three years ago Bonnie Nandino, who lives east of Safford, encountered Keith struggling to ride his bicycle with several bags of groceries balanced on the handle bars. She offered him a ride that day, and continued giving him rides to and from town thereafter. 

   Keith visited the Samaritan Home each Sunday for a hot shower and a meal. He was a true gentleman and insisted on paying his friend for the rides to town. She in turn invited him to family gatherings where he became acquainted with some of her children and her brother and sisters, who all knew Keith to be "a genuinely nice guy." Bonnie said that Keith had scheduled an appointment with a representative of the Veteran's Administration shortly before his death. The appointment was kept, but sadly, the need was now to arrange for Keith's burial.