Mark, so sorry to read here about you dad! He always seemed to me a really nice man and with your mum was a long-time and excellent supporter of Viva Voce

Bryan, (David), Linda and Mark The photos tell a wonderful story and are a fabulous tribute to your Mum and Dad leading a very adventurous lifestyle. We have been blessed by the presence and talents of Keith, Ruth and your family in our church community over many years. Thinking of you all as you mourn the loss of both parents now and a very young brother David. With love from Sue & Chris

Thanks Keith I learnt a lot from you, especially about dogged determination. I experienced a lot with you, when out getting scratched up legs. I enjoyed the fight. The fight through the bush and the fight for access to it. The effect of your actions and your teachings keep walking on....Ian

Linda, Bryan, Mark and Family, I am very sorry to learn of Keith’s passing. He was a long standing and valued friend. I have fond memories of our Auckland Tramping Club adventures and family times together at Opito. My thoughts are with you all at this time.

Dear Linda, Mark, Bryan and Family, I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Keith was an inspiring man with an inquisitive and adventurous spirit. He will be missed. Thinking of you all.

Brian and Linda, Sorry to hear about Keith, and thanks for contacting me Brian. our family had several fun-filled Christmas holidays at Opitio Bay, where we were generously offered spaces on the Willaimsons (and others) boats, being only boat-less family (from Wellington). Dad sometimes said he was always envious of Keith at university, as he had a photographic memory so whilst Dad and most others were cramming for final exams, Keith often headed of tramping etc, and passed all his exams with good grades. Keith "walked Mum to the alter" at Mum and Dads wedding in London in 1956, and Keith was a good London friend to Dad, especially with rock climbing and skiing trips to Austria.

Grandpa was a stubborn man who had a passion for adventure. His determination to find the perfect beach with access for diving and camping led to our family holidaying at Opito Bay for the past 60 years. And is no doubt the reason that I work within the marine conservation space, a fact he very proudly told everyone who would listen. He taught me how to use the Hawaiian sling to shoot mao mao and we would put them on his float - which was a milk bottle with twine tied to a piece of metal. Sometimes, as we pulled it back to the boat, a big short tailed ray would follow it back to the boat where we could pat her as she came up the ladder. Grandpa took us on many tramping and caving trips - through some pretty hairy spots. But apart from gorse prickles and sore feet - Nicole and I got out largely unscathed. Though our adventures were a lot tamer than the ones that he took Linda, Bryan and Mark on, which by all accounts left some lasting trauma. A highlight was when he took us over to Watchman’s Island - that Little Rock to the west of the Harbour Bridge. Though we always called it Ratty Island, since the reef looked like a little tail. He climbed up it first and put down ropes to hoist us kids up to the summit. At age 83, I took them up to the Poor Knights. He insisted that he needed to bring his weight belt, I thought it probably wasn’t the best idea to lose grandpa to the bottom of the ocean, so took it out of the car. As we arrived, he proudly pulled it out of the boot. I tried to repeat my trick of hiding it again but good god he was determined. He ended up wearing it, luckily his old Seaquel wetsuit was so buoyant he could barely get beneath the surface. I took him for one of his last snorkels at Peach Grove, Great Mercury when he was 85. His vision was very poor by then and he held my hand as I guided him around the reef. It felt as if we had done a full circle and I am so glad that his passion for adventures lives on in me and my children

Hi Linda and Cam. Thinking of you both on this celebration of Keiths life. You are so right, he is in his happy place now among the mountains and oceans at peace at last. Lots of love to you both. Tony

Hi Linda, It was with sadness that I read of the passing of your dad this morning. I well remember many happy family occasions when Ruth and Keith were present, and it seems strange now that the ranks among our cousins are thinning- as you probably know both Joyce and Alan have passed away, and are sorely missed. Please pass on my condolences to Bryan and Mark, and accept blessings and love for yourself and family. With every sympathy, Valerie Candy

Hi Linda and Cam, We are very sorry to learn of Keith’s passing. We always enjoyed our time with him and Ruth and they were always very kind to us when we visited in N.Z and when they visited us here in California.

Such beautiful memories of both Ruth and Keith and the extended family. Lovely to see them living their best lives enjoying the great outdoors. Thinking of you all at this bittersweet time of loss and celebration.

Linda, Mark and Brian Very sorry for your loss. I have missed Keith in recent years and used to enjoy chatting to him (mostly about tracks in the later years). I remember him as an extremely capable man both physically and mentally. He was always one to have a go - whether it be removing wasp nests dressed in a wetsuit at Opito and getting stung head to toe or climbing the Needle with ropes from an anchored boat. Very musically talented as well. He had incredible strength and resilience - he crawled 3 km from Pink Beach to Opito in his mid 80"s when he injured his back and legs. Working with him as an engineer on a few occasions I found him to be very innovative and original - no standard boring design solutions from Keith! Also he was also one of my father's (Cliff) best friends. They lived together at Ardmore Engineering college for a time. Cliff said Keith had a photographic memory. Cliff would be hard at work studying for exams while Keith would go tramping, turn up in time for the exam and still get top marks.

Dear Linda and Family, We are so sorry for your loss. May you be sustained by the many happy memories of the very fine man that Keith was. A life well-lived indeed. Love from Simon and Garnet, and the Perth Marshalls

Great to have known Keith. He is an inspiration with respect to his dedication to forest and bird life and the preservation of tracks for trampers through NZ. Thanks to Keith and Ruth for taking me on all those great trips as Linda’s plus one friend. I learnt alot about tramping/ nature/ boating and had lots of fun. A generation of Williamson’s now gone. Thinking of the Hefford’s / Doogan’s / Williamson families now

Hi Linda, I was deeply saddened to hear of your loss. Keith always had a warm place in my heart, and many wonderful memories of catching Kahawai out in the gulf on your old sea nymph. He will be missed. Please let me know when the funeral is. All my love, Lindsey

Dear family Lovely family photo. even though Keith is close to the end of a super long and full life, I can still think of him so full of energy and plans that he could barely stop for lunch! Love Margaret Sent by Margaret Stratton

Great memories of my Uncle Keith. A good keen kiwi bloke, successful consulting engineer, loving husband, devoted father, enjoyable and kind Uncle, always ready to face a challenge, always a smile and warm hello. A real go-getter! With love, Ross & Wendy

Hi Linda & Cam, thinking of you guys and remembering all the great times we had at Opito with your family. What an amazing full life Keith led and such a wonderful photo too. Lots of love Jeni xxx Jeni Goodwin

Hi Linda, Sorry to hear that news. I think the idea of a native tree at Opito is a great idea. Love to all John and Karen

So sorry for you loss. Our thoughts are with you all. Love Juanita and Paul

Many supportive thoughts are with you, Linda, as this generation of your family is farewelled. May you be sustained by happy memories. Love, From Anita

So sorry to hear about your Dad. Lots of good memories, the tracks around Opito and a named bridge to remind us of all he taught us. Love to you all