Lloyd Keith Speed

Lloyd Keith Speed passed from this life on Monday morning, August 18, 2015 with family by his side. Keith was a Christian first, a faithful and dedicated husband, and a loving father to his children and grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Friday, August 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Memorial Funeral Chapel in College Station. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 22 at the Brazos Valley Church of Christ with interment immediately following at the Wellborn Cemetery.

Keith was born in Raton, New Mexico to Leroy Koge Speed and wife Lavonia on New Year’s Eve 1936. The family relocated to the city of Velasco in the early 1940’s. Keith and his younger brother Tom had active childhoods and worked a variety of jobs as youth, including many trips into the Gulf working as crew on party boats. Keith graduated from Brazosport High School in 1955 and attended college at Del Mar, Sam Houston State and Texas Lutheran.

In the late 1950’s, Keith enlisted in the United States Army. While stationed in Virginia, Keith learned and later taught diesel engine mechanic skills. A transfer to the Panama Canal Zone occurred in the early 60’s and Keith concluded his military career in Central America, where he enjoyed fishing and snorkeling on days off. Always looking to learn something new, Keith became fluent in Spanish, which served him well for the remainder of his life.

In December 1962, Keith married Iris Prather, and together they had two sons, Kevin and Sean. The family lived in Freeport until 1969 and then moved to Portland, TX living there until 1977. During his time in Portland, Keith worked for both Reynolds Aluminum and Woody’s Truck Service. The family returned to the Brazosport area in 1977, where Keith worked for Shintech chemical company as a maintenance manager. While working for Shintech, Keith exposed his family to the Japanese culture by hosting gatherings of visiting Japanese engineers, and began to learn Japanese on his own using books and cassette tapes.

Keith and Iris divorced in the late 1980’s. In 1990, Keith found love again and married Charlene Hearn Cayer. All six of Charlene’s children accepted Keith into the family and he loved them like they were his own. Keith continued his career working for U.S. Contractors in Point Comfort and later for an Enron subsidiary, building power generation plants in Granbury, TX and in Arkansas.

After retirement, Keith and Charlene enjoyed several years living at their home, which he built, on Lake Corpus Christi. During his time at the lake, he was an active member of the George West Church of Christ where Keith became an Elder. They eventually moved to College Station to be closer to family, where Keith has been a faithful member of the Brazos Valley Church of Christ. Keith also volunteered at a local food pantry in recent years.

“He never met a stranger” is how several people have described Keith. He loved people, having mentored a host of young men. He was known as the go-to-person for information, technical advice and tools, having a “hardware store” in his garage.

He was preceded in death by both parents, Leroy Koge and Lavonia Speed; and a grandson, William Cayer. Survivors include his wife, Charlene Speed of College Station, his brother; Tom Speed and wife Carol of West University Place; sons Kevin Speed and wife Susan of Wimberley and Sean Speed and wife Tricia of Wellborn; step-daughters Carole Small and husband Byron of Clute, Gwen Reed and husband Terry of Willis, Carrie Campbell and husband Walter of College Station; step-sons Gordon Duncan and wife Lori of Denver, Arthur Cayer and wife Pam of Friendswood, and Stuart Cayer and wife Sharon of Clear Lake. Keith leaves behind ten grandsons, three granddaughters, one great-grandson, and two great-granddaughters.