Keith Glenn Twiggs was born on November 18, 1923, to Glenn and Dollie Twiggs in Augusta, Kansas. After 100 years of living well on this earth, he graduated to his heavenly home on May 16, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents, six sisters and brothers-in-law, his wife of 75 years, Elizabeth, his daughter and son-in-law, Dollie and Dick Waters, his son-in-law, Bobby Mills, his grandson, Keith Mann, his great-granddaughters, Dianna Mann and Amanda Clark, and many relatives and friends. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Bob Mann Sr.; daughter, Oma Mills; granddaughter, Jenny Mills; grandsons Ed Mann and wife, Karen, and Bob Mann Jr. and wife, Connie; great-grandsons E.J. Mann, Steven Mann, Chris Kaloderovic and Steve Clark; great-granddaughter, Lacey Mann, great-great-grandchildren, Alexis, Addie, Cade, Charles, Connor, and Calista; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Keith was born in Kansas, grew up in Oklahoma, raised his family in California, and retired in Brenham, Texas. He grew up in a very small house with his parents and six sisters, so his bedroom was the front porch. Sometime during his childhood their house burned down, and his dad ran back in to save his prized possession - the sousaphone. His dad’s love of music birthed the same love in Keith, and he enjoyed many years in the school band as a trombone player. Keith’s love of music continued all the days of his life, his favorites being Dixieland jazz and gospel. He could often be heard singing or whistling “Blessed Assurance” and “How Great Thou Art” as he went about his daily work or while baking THE best pecan pie for Thanksgiving.
When he was only 11 years old, he met the love of his life, Elizabeth. After serving time in the Army Air Corps as a plane mechanic during WWII, they married on April 15, 1947 and raised three daughters in Crestline, CA. He held several jobs in California including driving logging and cement trucks up and down mountain roads, laying pavement, construction, and was even a volunteer firefighter.
In 1973, when Keith was 50 years old, he and Elizabeth moved to Brenham, Texas, to open a Sonic Drive-In franchise, a business his brother-in-law, Troy Smith, started in Oklahoma. Thanks to this later-in-life risk, he set his family up for success, which was always his number one goal in life - to take care of his family. For many years he ran the store, morning and night, and opened several other stores in nearby Texas cities. He managed with high expectations, and many respected him by devoting decades of work to the successful drive in.
Once establishing life in Brenham, Keith got involved in everything. He and Elizabeth attended First Baptist Church in Brenham for several decades, where he served as a deacon, sang in the choir, and joined the layman's prayer breakfast group regularly. Among many participations, he was a Mason with the Grand Lodge of Texas' Graham Lodge No. 20, a Shriner with the Brenham Shrine Club of the Arabian Temple, an active rotarian with the Rotary Club of Washington County, a proud member of the Scottish Rite Club, American Legion, 100 Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Citizens on Patrol Academy Alumni Association. Keith contributed his time and money to many projects within these clubs, and even volunteered at the Brenham Police Department as chief paper filer and guest greeter. Keith was also integral in starting Faith Mission in Brenham, and gave generously to many organizations to construct buildings, implement programs, and help students attend Blinn College.
Keith never met a stranger, loved to tell a good joke, and was often quick to make up a pun in the middle of conversation. When he came up with a good one, in his opinion, a little grin would grow on his face until you finally just had to laugh with him. He almost always knew the right thing to do, or the right person to talk to. He strongly believed the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” and he lived that out by making sure he knew everyone, including their families and every place they lived and worked. He didn’t use this information just for his gain, though. He was genuine in his desire to know people and find ways he might be able to help them. He talked to everyone, all over town, and would often make up a reason to go to the bank, just so he could visit around with his friends.
Keith loved to travel with his wife, and together they enjoyed many trips across the states and several countries around the world. A lot of trips were combined with Dixieland jazz concerts and band followings, as well as family visits. He invested in Blue Bird motorhomes and aptly named his coach, “Bittersweet,” because traveling away from home is always both bitter and sweet. Across the nation and into Canada, he and Elizabeth went to many Blue Bird rallies and, of course, made lots of friends along the way. He knew roads and routes by memory, and his atlas pages were well worn and highlighted. If you were going somewhere, he knew the way and would tell you exactly which road to take, what you’d see along the way, who lived nearby, and where to fuel up or get a bite to eat.
After many years of work, raising their family, and traveling the world, Keith and Elizabeth found their way to Country Bible Church in Brenham, Texas, where they faithfully attended three times a week for several years. Keith’s thirst for learning more about Jesus and the Bible grew during that time, and his faith sustained him throughout the final years of caring for his wife and himself. He and Elizabeth moved to Silversage Assisted Living as two of the first residents, but they lived in separate spaces due to differing levels of needed care. That didn’t stop him from taking care of her, though. He devotedly went to her room every day to sit with her for hours at a time, and worried about her being taken care of until she passed in 2022. As his needs changed, Silversage changed with him. He and his family were extremely grateful for all the staff and caregivers who did their best to serve him daily until he graduated to Heaven.
Memorial and burial services are provided by Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham. Friends are welcome to pay respects and share memories with the family on Thursday, May 23, from 9:30am until service time, with a chapel service following at 11am. A graveside service will be at Prairie Lea Cemetery with grandchildren serving as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the charity of your choice or your home church.
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