Obituary of Rev. Gordon Keith "Mateo" Elliott

Rev. Gordon Keith "Mateo" Elliott

The family of Keith Elliott welcomes you to attend a Celebration of Life Service for Keith on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Bethany Evangelical Missionary Church, 160 Lancaster Street East, Kitchener. A reception in the church hall will follow the service.

For those unable to attend in person, the service will also be livestreamed from Bethany EMC at this link: www.bethanykw.ca/#livestream 

To view the livestream of the service, please click here

On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Keith was able to fulfill his heart's desire to be the kidney donor for his beloved wife and life-long ministry partner, Ruth Ann. Keith experienced a complication from the transplant surgery. After many days on life support, surrounded by his family, Keith passed from this world into the loving arms of his Saviour on Saturday, January 3, 2026.

Keith is survived by Ruth Ann, his loving wife of almost 52 years, his children Anne Marie (Daniel Chapple), Timothy (Kathy) Elliott, Miriam (Shawn Keenan); his grandchildren Seth (Sophia), Annakke, Josiah, Mariemma, Zephan, Emanuel, Mateo, Isaiah, Lexi, Liam; his sisters Lois (Dennis) and Janice (Reid) and Ruth Ann's siblings Nancy (Stewart), David (Shawna), Sandra (Murray). He is predeceased by his son Victor Elliott, his parents Gordon Elliott and Margaret (Pyette) Good and Ruth Ann's parents Gerald Timlock and MaryAnn (Baer) Snyder.

Keith earned a Bachelor of Theology from Emmanuel Bible College in 1973 before his first pastorate at Evangel Missionary Church in Kitchener. Years later Keith completed his Master of Theological Studies from Waterloo Lutheran Seminary (Wilfred Laurier University). His love for the Lord led to a life of serving as a minister of the Gospel all over the world with Ruth Ann. Whether camp leadership, pastoral ministry or decades of missionary service in Canada, Ecuador, Mexico, Cuba, and throughout Latin America, Keith was passionate about drawing people to Jesus. He was a gifted teacher, preacher and mentor, using those gifts organizing and mobilizing followers of Jesus. He served in many churches and with organizations such as World Partners, Iglesia Evangelica Misionera Ecuatoriana, Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada, Camino Global, and Liebenzell Mission.

Keith was loved by so many people around the world who would love to celebrate his life. Keith's kidney continues to live on inside Ruth Ann, whose health remains especially vulnerable as a transplant recipient. 

In celebration of Keith's life, a Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Bethany Evangelical Missionary Church, 160 Lancaster Street East, Kitchener. A reception in the church hall will follow the service. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed.

If desired, donations in Keith's memory may be made to the Stiller Blackburn Multi-Organ Transplant Program (London Health Sciences Centre), Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada, Evergreen Christian Ministries as well as condolences for the family, messages, memories, and photos, can be shared on Keith's tribute page at www.erbgood.com. We invite our communities to share their memories, pictures, videos and the impact Keith had on their lives as a way to join us in our sorrow and grief at this loss.