Keith Leroy Wadleigh

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we have to share the unexpected passing of Keith Wadleigh on July 24, 2023. Keith was a sweet and caring son and brother, and a loving and supportive friend to many.

With all of the emotional pain and stress that death brings, it can also bring financial burdens. We would like to raise money for Keith's family to help with any funeral expenses and a memorial in his name. Please consider donating either directly to the family via Venmo to @Aya-Zucca or through this fundraiser.

It is in times of sadness and loss that people can come together to help one another make it through. Any support you may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. Please keep Keith's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you in advance for your loving kindness.

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Keith Leroy Wadleigh was a sweet and caring son and brother, and a loving and supportive friend to many. He was taken away by fate on July 24, 2023, at the age of 26. He was born on May 16, 1997, in Okinawa, Japan. Keith will be remembered by his father, Kenneth Wadleigh, and his mother, Liah Wadleigh. His sisters, Aya Zucca and Kasumi Wadleigh.

Keith graduated from Port Saint Joe High School Class of 2015. He was part of the Varsity Football Team that won the Class A State Championship and a shot-putter on the Track team. Coming from a bigger school, he loved Port Saint Joe High School. He was a deckhand on a charter boat for a summer and a dockhand for a boat rental company the next. He continued his education at the Gulf Coast Community College to pursue Culinary Arts where his instructors and peers noticed his talents.

Keith grew to become an outstanding cook and devoted team member at Tyndall AFB 325th FSS Bowling Alley, Gypsea Crepes, History Class Brewing Company, and El Weirdo. He was known to belt out songs while he worked to put a smile on those around him. He continued to try new things by getting into dance classes that included Lyrical, Jazz, Acro and Tap as well as working on himself at cross-fit and boxing. Many will remember him dancing and singing. He will leave a void in this community, and he will be sorely missed.

Keith loved fishing. He was his dad's prodigy. He caught his first bigger-than-him fish, a blue marlin, in Okinawa, when he was barely 9 years old. Jumping on the fighting stand and sitting on it to use as a fighting chair. His feet were on the railing, sitting on the pad that adults would lean against. The fight lasted about 20 minutes. He was familiar with the boat and how to deckhand and brought joy to the people that wanted to charter out into the gulf. He was the type to do more; he showed them how to fish, and he cleaned their catch. No matter the location, Keith usually finds and catches the fish more times than not out-fishing Dad.

With his catch of the day, he frequently would treat his family to a feast of his creation. We'd ask what's in this and he'd make us guess and it would come as no surprise if there were upwards of 15 ingredients -for better or for worse. But he knew and truly appreciated simple foods. All you need is cold tofu and hot rice, or fish skin done to a crisp. He loved uni-sauce. He made the best dashi-tamago. If you knew Keith, you'd likely know that he had his dad's manners and mom's appetite. He was not beyond being a guinea pig himself, trying out different things his sisters made for him and always letting them know how good it was. Eating together was what brought us close always.

We know that this was his love language: to cook and feed. He was thoughtful just like his mom. He put others before himself just like his mom. It was in his nature to take care of those around him anytime that he could. When Hurricane Michael left the neighborhood in disarray, Keith rolled up his sleeves and helped clean up the debris. I picture Keith making a goofy joke and a silly face, to make you smile or roll your eyes, to take your mind off what brings you down. He would say, "And now for something totally different."

Keith was at ease while outdoors. In more than one grade school he would catch bugs, lizards, and other critters which got him the nickname of bug-boy by the teachers. He would somehow spot critters that most people had a hard time seeing. Like a stone fish sitting on the bottom of Kadena Marina's rock shore. In Okinawa, picking him up after school activities, he would come with a critter in his hand saying, "Look what I caught!" or "Guess what this is." Through school classes, he was introduced to hydroponics and started growing things. Some may say that he had a green thumb. He loved flowers and origami.

With our hearts full of sadness, we will touch our memories of Keith, grasp his traces, and continue to celebrate his admiration for nature, the arts, and obviously, good food.

Our family would like to thank family and friends who have reached out to support us during this difficult time. We truly thank the team at Gypsea Crepes and History Class for organizing the gathering at Mosey's Downtown for one more toast to share memories of Keith's life. We'd like to thank the people that responded first before the coast guard arrived. We also send our thank you to the coast guard and the staff at Bay Medical Center.

A final cast in honor of Keith will be held at Panama City marina, details are tentative.

In lieu of flowers, we appreciate consideration for a donation which can be sent via Venmo to @Aya-Zucca to help with expenses including a memorial artificial reef in Keith’s name at Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association.

https://www.heritagefhllc.com/obituaries/Keith-Leroy-Wadleigh?obId=28575016