Ellis Vee Keith (1917-1985) was born on 17 June 1917 in Pago Pago, American Samoa to Willard Augustus Keith (1886-1931) and Esther Pearl Frodsham (1892-1962). Williard was born in New Bruswick and was a missionary teacher, while his mother was born in Utah. In 1920 the family moved to Cardson, Alberta. After high school, Ellis operated his own business for a short time before taking over an egg grading station in Raymond. He then moved to Edmonton where he took an accounting class while working at a liquor store. In 1941 he joined the land titles department at the City of Calgary, staying until 1944.

In 1944 he built and sold his first house. Over the next several years he hired several carpenters and grew his building company. In 1950 he formed Keith Construction. In 1953 he formed Kelwood Corporation and was largely responsible for building Glendale, Highwood, Wildwood, Kingsland, Haysboro and Fairview. 

In 1960 he sold his controlling interests in the companies he built. However, he soon bought these back and started working again. The 1960s saw Keith built two of Calgary's most luxurious new neighbourhoods: Willow Park and Lake Bonavista. He finally retired in 1971.

In 1939 Keith Married Hazel Marie LeBaron (1940-2002). They had four children: Yvonne, Donald, Linda, and Lorraine. He later remarried to Eunice Carleton (1920-2014) with whom he had one daughter, Sandra. On 11 December 1985 Keith died in Scottsdale, Arizona.