Elizabeth “Anne” Keeler Loyd, of Zephyr, Texas, passed away on Sunday morning, Jan. 3, 2010, at the age of 77 at her home with her loving husband Bob by her side.
An educator, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she will be missed, but fondly remembered by those fortunate enough to experience her gentle touch and wonderful zest for life.
Services are set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at the Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel, with burial to follow in the Zephyr Cemetery, where her parents are burried. Visitation with the family will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at Davis-Morris Funeral Home. Anne was born Sept. 21, 1932, in Zephyr, Texas, the youngest daughter of Charles Alton and Annie Valera Chambers Keeler. After graduating from Zephyr High School in 1950, Anne attended North Texas State in Denton, but she interrupted her education to marry Bob W. Loyd, who was the true love of her life. They were married on the day after Valentine’s Day, 1952, and were partners and life mates for almost 58 years. Anne and Bob are the parents of two children. Stephen Wade Loyd was born in 1952 and Angelique Loyd Jones was born in 1954. The family moved from Brady to Brownwood in 1967, and Anne returned to college, earning her degree in elementary education at Howard Payne College. She taught fifth grade at Early Elementary School for 18 years and touched the lives of hundreds of boys and girls with her dedication and caring way.
Anne was a member of the Zephyr Methodist Church as a child, was married there and returned to her church home in 1973 where she attended regularly with her friends and family until her illness finally prevented her from going. Anne was active in her much-loved Zephyr Quilting Club, a member of the Mary Garland Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and active in the Zephyr Community Improvement Club. She also served on the board of the Zephyr Cemetery Association and organized family meals for funerals in the Zephyr community.
A granddaughter of Brown County pioneers WHG and Nancy Shirey Chambers, Anne was very proud of her heritage and took great joy in being an integral part of the Thanksgiving family reunions. Though frail and weak, she made a valiant effort and was able to briefly attend the Chambers family’s 72nd annual reunion this past Thanksgiving.
All of the family is very thankful to all of the many friends, church members and extended family whose generous deeds and non ending prayers saw us through the hardest times. Thanks also should go to Guardian Healthcare, who truly put the patient first and to Dr. David Morales for his professional and infinitely kind care.
Anne is survived by her beloved husband, Bob; their children, Stephen and wife Linda of Zephyr, and Angelique Jones and husband Don of Brownwood; their grandchildren, DeeCee McDougal and husband Jamie of Weatherford, Casi Rutherford and husband Todd of Zephyr, Robert Loyd and wife Jamie of Troy, Texas, Clifford Loyd and wife Dena of Austin, Kristen Brooke Lewis of Houston, and Amory Beth Pitts of Brownwood; six great grandchildren; two sisters, LaVerne Keeler Kilgore of Denton, and Christine Williamson and her husband Bob of San Marcos; a brother-in-law, Wortham Loyd and his wife Joye of Granbury; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Anne’s son, son-in-law and grandsons will serve as pallbearers. They are Stephen Loyd, Don Jones, Robert Loyd, Clifford Loyd, Jamie McDougal and Todd Rutherford.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Zephyr United Methodist Church; P.O. Box 764; Zephyr, TX 76890 or to the American Cancer Society.
