Eddie Keys is pictured with his great-grandson Anthony Bush, Eddie’s English
pointer Zeus, his son Randy’s English pointers Samson and Delilah, a trio better
known as “The Lady and the Lads.”
PORT JERVIS — For the Keys family of Port Jervis, Middletown and Michigan, family hunts are an integral part of their family culture. Whether the hunt is for rabbits, woodchucks, deer or birds, this age-old family tradition and associated rituals strengthen family bonds, connect generations, solidify identity and belonging, create memories, and help to form the family’s values and story.
Eddie Keys, who has participated in family hunts as a youngster, father, grandfather, and now as a great-grandfather, considers himself blessed to have been able to hunt with five generations of his extended family.
“The passing down through traditions is not just in lessons of hunting and respect for nature and wildlife, but also the learning and teaching of life lessons and the importance of family bonds,” says Keys. “The woods also provide, for me, serenity and an opportunity for reflection of the past and anticipation for the future.”
Undoubtedly, the Keys Family’s hunting tradition, which includes both females and males, will continue to be woven between generations.
