Orland resident Keith Wallace Rawlings died in Orland on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. He was born in Orland to Wally and Mary Rawlings on December 15, 1945.
He grew up with his two wonderful sisters, June and Gail, on his family’s small ranch and learned many skills, such as welding, fence building, caring for horses, and raising livestock. While there wasn’t much room for fun, he did find time to take pack horses into the Yolla Bolly mountains to hunt and explore nature with friends and family.
He also had a knack for mechanical things and rebuilt a hot rod from a pile of rusting metal before leaving for college.
He graduated from Orland High School in 1963 and left home soon after to attend Chico State University through an ag scholarship. Although his bachelor’s degree was in agriculture, he would find his calling in carpentry.
After a brief stint working for Gus Hoover as part of a survey crew, Keith met a general contractor named Calvin Lepp – and thus began a decades-long friendship and professional relationship. He obtained his general contractor’s license in 1988 and worked alongside Calvin on numerous building and remodel projects, most notably the construction of Pokey and Laurel Cleek’s home.
If we rewind a few years, we see Keith meeting a sweet, shy redhead named Janet Stanley through Neighborhood Church in Chico. They married in June of 1976 and honeymooned up the California/Oregon Coast, winding up in Coos Bay, Oregon.
Their family returned to that coastal area many times, creating happy memories of camping and enjoying the beach.
Keith was a man of faith and substantial character. He was thoughtful of others, generous by nature, and desired to serve those around him with the utmost integrity.
He loved to study the Bible in English, as well as the original Greek and Hebrew. Above all, he felt that his true purpose was to share what God had done for him – to be a light and a witness to the power of redemption through Christ Jesus.
He wanted everyone to know Jesus as he did. His loved ones say that his deepest hope was for every living soul to believe the ultimate Love story that culminated with Jesus dying on a Roman cross for our sins, so we might be forgiven and join Him in an everlasting Paradise.
As John 3:16 and 17 say, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but…that the world might be saved through Him.”
Keith is survived by his wife, Janet; sons Peter (Beth) Rawlings, and Ted (Jenn) Rawlings; daughters Val (Dave) Arnold, and Rachel (David) Hanson; nine grandchildren; and many friends and extended family members.
A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 9, at the Providence Gym, 6290 County Road 12, Orland.
Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary of Orland.
The Glenn County Observer 