Kija Sage Keithley

Kija Sage Keithley, 24, of Montrose, Colorado, passed away on January 9, 2026, in Aurora, Colorado. She was born on November 8, 2001, in Montrose, Colorado, to Douglas Stony Keithley and Rebekah Amber Washack.

Kija spent her childhood and attended high school in Montrose, where she grew up surrounded by the mountains she loved so deeply. She found joy in the outdoors—hiking, swimming, fishing—and cherished live music and concerts. Her adventurous spirit and appreciation for nature were a constant throughout her life.

Though Kija never married, her greatest joy came on July 21, 2023, with the birth of the light of her life, her daughter, Lakota Sage Keithley. Being Lakota’s mother was her proudest role and deepest love.

Kija is survived by her beloved daughter, Lakota Sage Keithley; her parents, Douglas Stony Keithley and Rebekah Amber Washack; her grandparents, Daniel Harold Keithley, Arlene Hutchings, and Janice Robinson; her brother, Lukas T. Washack; and her twin brother, Daniel Cole Keithley.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered for her love, her spirit, and the imprint she left on those who knew her.

A Celebration of Kija’s Life will be held at The Temple, 511 East Main Street, Montrose Colorado on Saturday, January 31st, 2026 from 2pm till 6pm.