GEORGE KEITH MUNNERLYN, 94, lived a long
and storied life. A devout Christian, Keith died
at Villa Haven Nursing Home in Breckenridge, TX
meeting his Maker on March 13, 2026.
He was born on March 9, 1932, in Eagle Pass, TX
to Vina Mae Rasmussen Munnerlyn & 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 and Karen Munnerlyn.
Beginning at age thirteen, 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 attended Ranger High School in the Class of
1949 as Class President of 57 young adults. He was
team captain for the Ranger Bulldogs. Keith was also
a member of the Ranger basketball team. In that same
graduating class was a pretty young girl named Donna
"Joan" Kenney who would later become Mrs. Keith
Munnerlyn.
After graduation, he 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 U.S. Marine Corps in 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 K. Munnerlyn
was that of Sergeant. Keith Munnerlyn received the Bronze
Star Medal with the Combat "V" in 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, TX. After finishing
college with his earned Bachelor of Science degree, he
later taught science and coached for twenty-one 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 eighteen 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 in 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,
TX, 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 twelve 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 & 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, he retired from the State
of Texas and began more traveling with Joan. Together
they visited almost every Courthouse in Texas & 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 in 2013, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease
dramatically changing Keith's remaining years; however,
he continued sharing his love with Donna, Mike, & Vickie,
his nine grandchildren, and his twelve great-grandchildren.
Keith was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the
1st Marine Division Association & 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 & the Ridge
Cowboy Church in Breckenridge.
Keith Munnerlyn was preceded in death by his parents,
George Mazon Munnerlyn (RJC-Faculty) and Vina Mae
Munnerlyn; his brother, Larry "Bo" Munnerlyn; his wife,
Joan Munnerlyn (RHS-1949); his eldest daughter, Donna
Kay Munnerlyn Fowler; son-in-law, Max Ramsey; & brother-
in-law, Al Maag.
Keith is survived by his son Michael W. "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; & 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, & 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; 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 10th 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 10th. 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.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Keith,
please visit their Tree Store.