Breckenridge Texan

As parting words Keith Munnerlyn would say to all: “Semper Fi! God Bless Texas and God Bless America!”.

Keith Munnerlyn lived a long and storied life. A devout Christian, Keith died at Villa Haven Nursing Home in Breckenridge, Texas, meeting his Maker on March 13, 2026, at the age of 94. George Keith Munnerlyn was born on March 9, 1932, in Eagle Pass, Texas, to Vina Mae Rasmussen Munnerlyn and George Mazon Munnerlyn.

As a small boy, Keith grew up in the country on the family farm located between Ranger and Breckenridge. In the Munnerlyn family, Keith was the older brother to his two siblings, Larry Mazon Munnerlyn, who was born on January 7, 1939, in Gorman, Texas, and Karen Munnerlyn, who was born on January 19, 1940, also in Gorman.

Beginning at age 13, Keith worked and lived at the Ranger fire station while he went to school. On weekends, Keith would make his way home to the farm to be with and help his parents and family. Keith played football and was team captain for the Ranger Bulldogs. He was also a member of the Ranger basketball team. In 1949, Keith graduated from Ranger High School as Class President in a class of 57 young adults. In that same graduating class was a pretty young girl named Donna “Joan” Kenney, who would later become Mrs. Keith Munnerlyn.

After graduation, Keith attended Hardin-Simmons College in Abilene on a football scholarship where he lettered in 1950. After football in his sophomore year, Keith enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on January 17, 1951. Keith served in combat during the Korean War and continued a long Munnerlyn tradition of fighting for our freedom going back to our country’s beginnings in the Revolutionary War. In the Marines, Keith had the nickname of “Salty.” The highest rank achieved by Marine George Keith Munnerlyn was that of Sergeant. Keith Munnerlyn received the Bronze Star Medal with the Combat “V” on March 27, 1953, for his actions and courage under fire during the Korean War.

After his Honorable Discharge from the Marines for his more than three years of service to his country from 1949 to 1953 during the Korean War, Keith re-entered Hardin-Simmons College in Abilene. After finishing college with his earned Bachelor of Science degree, Keith later taught science and coached for 21 years in the Stamford, Hereford, and Iraan school districts. At Stamford High School, Keith coached defense on two State Championship Football Teams in 1958 and 1959. Also, during 18 of those years while he was an educator, Keith served as a dedicated volunteer fireman and emergency medical technician in the communities where he lived.

Keith Munnerlyn began dating Joan Kenney while in college in Abilene and a life-long love and partnership ensued. After marrying Joan on June 4, 1955, in Abilene, they started their family and Keith began coaching and teaching.

Keith would later pursue a higher degree and earned his master’s in education from West Texas State in Canyon, Texas, which assisted him in becoming an Assistant Principal in the Hereford Independent School District. As a coach and assistant principal at Hereford High School, Keith was well respected by faculty, staff, and especially the students.

The Taos, New Mexico, days were magical times for the Munnerlyn kids and later with their spouses and their children; the pleasure of visiting with Grammy and Grampy … enjoying the forests in the summer and the snow during the winter. Whether it was hiking, building forts, just adventures, playing games in the cabin, golfing, swimming at the clubhouse, whitewater rafting, fishing, sledding, skiing, snowmobiling, or just visiting; everyone had a fabulous time!

Following his teaching profession, Keith later worked around the world in the oil industry in a variety of jobs for over 12 years. Keith’s oil field jobs often took him abroad where he worked in the Gulf of Yemen, Belize, Abi Daubi and other interesting places. Keith was a safety engineer with an oil company where he worked with hydrogen sulfide gas safety; was a offshore production supervisor in the Persian Gulf; and was an oil field maintenance supervisor. Keith and Joan would often travel the world during his off-shift times. They eventually sold their cabin in Taos and moved back to their early roots to a country home in Shackleford County between Breckenridge and Albany.

While in Breckenridge, Keith also served as a correctional officer for the Texas Prison System for his three final years of employment. In 1997, Keith retired from the State of Texas and began more traveling with Joan. Together they visited almost every courthouse in Texas and visited friends and family in the United States and abroad.

Keith long enjoyed staying in touch with family, his Marine buddies, friends from his teaching and coaching days, former students, and people from all walks of life. Keith loved his various pets, wood carving, varmint and other hunting, finding treasures, and gardening. Joan died on October 20, 2013, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, dramatically changing Keith’s remaining years; however, Keith continued sharing his love with Donna, Mike, and Vickie, his nine grandchildren, and his 12 great-grandchildren.

Keith was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the 1st Marine Division Association, and the Marine Corps League. Keith is also very proud of his longtime connection to the Masonic Lodge and was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 492 in Breckenridge, New Hope Baptist Church and the Ridge Cowboy Church in Breckenridge.

Keith Munnerlyn was preceded in death by his parents, George Mazon and Vina Mae Munnerlyn; his brother, Larry “Bo” Munnerlyn; his wife, Joan Munnerlyn; his eldest daughter, Donna Kay Munnerlyn Fowler; son-in-law, Max Ramsey; and brother-in-law, Al Maag.

Keith is survived by his son Michael Wayne “Mike” Munnerlyn and his wife Kayo and their young son Takami; Mike’s two adult children, Mazon Munnerlyn and his wife Melaine and their two young daughters Lily and Lyla; and Shaler Munnerlyn; Keith’s daughter “Vickie” Jean Munnerlyn Ramsey and her husband Wade Sudderth; Max and Vickie’s four children, Keitha Ramsey Crabtree and her husband Stephen and son Noah, Jerrad Ramsey and his wife Valerie and daughter Eva and son Hunter, Seth Ramsey and son Rhet, and Ashtyn Ramsey Mehlhoff and her husband Jason and their children, Parker Max, Grant, Miles, McKinley and Scotlyn; his son-in-law, Mike Fowler; Donna and Mike’s two children, Emily Fowler Gartner and her husband Billy, and Luke Fowler and his wife Taylor and son Finn. Keith was also survived and blessed with his life-long bond with his younger sister, Karen White Maag, and the connection with his brother Larry’s wife, Gundi Munnerlyn.

Keith Munnerlyn will be cremated, a memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 10, at Morehart Mortuary, and his ashes will be interred with those of his wife, Joan, at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at 7457 West Lake Road in Abilene with a family tribute, celebration, and remembrance of their lives, at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 10. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Keith and Joan Munnerlyn to Shriners Children Hospital or the charity of your choice.

“Well done, good and faithful servant”