Keith Shupe

Keith Richard Shupe was born in Ogden, Utah, October 3, 1940. Son of Thelma Alberta (1906-1989) and H. Victor Shupe (1897-1979), he was a middle brother to Warner L. Hansen, (1929-2003), and sister Carole P. Nixon. He attended and graduated from Ogden High School. After graduating from Weber State and the University of Utah with a degree in Journalism, and aspirations for sportscasting, he was recruited by Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, MO as a lettering artist where he began his career in graphic design. This is also where he fell in love with “Sally” H. B.; the two married May 8, 1966, in Champaign, IL. Together, with her support he went on to graduate from Art Center College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, CA.

He had a long, successful career as a Design Director with firms that created corporate identity, branding, and packaging which touched the lives and generations of many. Well-known brands included Marriott International hotels and FujiFilm. He worked on national packaging for Dove Bar ice cream, Heath candy bars, and Taco Bell. But the most beloved design by far would be his Andes chocolate mints packaging. Much of his work had great commercial exposure and it was a delight to see his work in a spot while watching the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. A couple of weeks before he died, Keith’s work from over 30 years ago popped up as an obscure gag prop in Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “Loki” in the form of a Boku adult juice box.

Keith’s pride and joy was being a loving husband and father, raising a son, Geoff, and daughter, Kelly in Glen Ellyn, IL. He always found time between work, family, and his personal activities though often it meant bringing work home to the basement artist studio / laundry room. Keith was at times a shy person who was very driven. He loved to jog, garden, ride his bike, play tennis, go swimming, fire up the grill, and do photography. When he watched sports he could be heard shouting and cheering from two houses away. Keith would drink coffee and read the paper, keep the multiple clocks in the house wound and ticking, and make sure the bird feeders were well-stocked for the birds and squirrels. He also lived for family vacations and time spent with good friends. 

In 2015 he moved to Seattle and was diagnosed in 2017 with prostate cancer. While living in Assisted Living his cancer metastasized and spread to his lymph nodes and bones. Just this May while feeling “fine”, he chose a natural death over the comfortless side effects of chemotherapy to cherish his short remaining time with those close to him. His health quickly declined in June and he died Wednesday morning on July 7, 2021.

Surviving family includes his son, daughter, ex-wife, sister, and several loved members of the extended family. Keith was baptized by The Church of the Good Shepherd in Ogden, UT March 15, 1953, and later worshipped at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Seattle, WA who performed last rites. Keith was well-admired and loved, he will be fondly remembered and missed.

A donor to the University of Washington School of Medicine’s Willed Body Program, Keith chose to aid research and education with the purpose of ebbing human suffering. His final resting place will be in Utah alongside his family who preceded him.