Wilma Jean Keyes

Wilma Jean Keyes, 80, passed peacefully into eternal rest on Monday, July 6, 2020.  She was born October 24, 1939 in Highlands, Texas to John A. Casey and Bernice (Browder) Casey.  She graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown, Class of 1958. 

Wilma married Emanuel Keyes of Highlands on January 30th 1960 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Highlands.  They enjoyed 60 wonderful years together and were deeply in love throughout.  Wilma loved being with family and friends, especially her children and grandchildren.  She was dearly loved and honored by her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and all children.  She was like a Mom to all.  She was a PTA member when her children were in elementary school and was always the room Mom. She was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Jude’s, where she also taught CCE classes.  Wilma enjoyed gardening and the outdoors.  She was a fantastic cook and knew how to cook any type of wild game, seafood, or even bullfrogs.  She canned many types of vegetables as well as jams and jellies.  She was perfectly comfortable walking barefoot, playing with the kids in the grass, or playing baseball with the boys.  She was a country girl at heart.  She was somewhat shy, but enjoyed socializing, listening to country music, and dancing.  She also loved playing card games of all kinds and dominos as well.  Her favorite domino game was the game of 42.  She and Emanuel often attended 42 parties with friends, and it was the game of choice at family vacations.  Her favorite vacation spots were Concan Texas on the Frio river, a family camp house on the Trinity River near Kenefick, and week long vacation trips camping on the beach in tents and pop-up campers on Matagorda Bay at Port O’ Conner in the early 70s.  She and Emanuel also enjoyed an occasional trip to Las Vegas with friends.  Wilma also was a baseball fan.  She was often the Team Mom during her sons’ little league years and attended virtually all events of her children, including Baytown Sterling football games where her daughter participated as a Sterling Star.  She was a huge fan of the Houston Astros.  She loved Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell.  Her favorite singer was George Jones, who sang her favorite song, “A Picture of Me Without You”, which references church bells, heaven, and singing angels. 

Wilma was a well-known member of the Highlands community, having owned and managed the primary local café called the Cedar Inn in the 80s and also having managed and worked at the town’s favorite burger spot, the Snak Shak.  She was an enormously hard worker, rising at 3:30am to open the restaurant and closing after 8pm.  She knew everyone in town and they all loved her, as did her employees.  She was a genuinely kind soul, and was respected by all for her honesty and integrity.

Wilma touched the hearts and souls of everyone she met.  She will be dearly missed.  She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Bernice Casey, brother Larry, and sister Peggy.

She is survived by her husband Emanuel Keyes, her two sons Doug (Amber) Keyes and John (Maggie) Keyes, and her daughter Cathy (John) Corley, and her son-in-law Chip (Karen) Morton.  Also surviving are two grandsons Joe and John Morton, five granddaughters Elizabeth, Olivia, Mary, Anna, and Catherine Keyes, and one great grandson Jude.  Also, step grandchildren Veronica, Gabriel, Adrian, Chanel, Dawson, and Chloe.

Serving as pallbearers are Jimmy, Mickey, Tony, and David Keyes, Randy Casey, and Joe Morton.

The family wishes to thank the staff of St. James House for the genuinely loving care given to Wilma during her time there.

Visitation and Rosary will be held at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Highlands, TX at 9am on Monday, July 13, 2020, with funeral mass immediately following at 10am.  Graveside service will follow the mass at Sterling White Cemetery, 11011 Crosby-Lynchburg Rd, Highlands TX 77562.  Online condolences may be made at www.sterlingwhite.com

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, masks will be required at all events, including the graveside service.  Additionally, the capacity at St. Jude’s is limited to approximately 75 people, but the following graveside service at approximately 11:00am has no limit.  The family fully understands the attendance issues this presents, but chose to keep all services public to provide opportunity and flexibility for any prospective attendees, and asks that attendees understand any necessary restrictive actions made by the church.