Before he passed away, Toby Keith had three grown-up children with his wife, Tricia. He shared a special bond with his middle child, Krystal Keith. On the Friday after Toby’s passing, Krystal spoke out from her heart on social media, as reported by The Oklahoman.
She posted an emotional tribute on Instagram and described Toby as her “hero.” Touchingly, Krystal wrote she felt “so lucky” to have had him and “so grateful” that Toby got to walk her down the aisle and meet her babies—two of his granddaughters.
Krystal loved to sing country music as her dad did. She has even released music on the record label that Toby co-owned in Nashville. She recalled “years of memories traveling the world as a family” and how blessed she was to sing on stage with Toby on the road.
Krystal Released a Tribute to Toby on Social Media
Her social media tribute revealed how lucky Krystal felt to have a chance to say goodbye to her father and tell Toby what he meant to her. She also revealed that she has many videos of her father to remember him by. Krystal hopes that someday, she will enjoy watching those videos again.
Krystal wrote that the “amount of people and networks” honoring her dad “is a reminder that he wasn’t just ours. He was the world’s.” Krystal described Toby as “a gift that we were, as a family, able to offer the world, and he did not squander our sacrifice of time with him.”
She also provided some insight into Toby’s private side, writing that he did so much good for other people but didn’t look for any recognition for his kind deeds.
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Krystal mentioned Toby’s strong faith in God, writing that he lived with Jesus so he could go on with Jesus. She called that the cherry on top of the life he lived. Krystal said she will honor her father forever.
Her social media post described how Toby’s passing has affected her physically. Krystal wrote, “The pain is so unbelievably deep and it feels like I have a literal broken heart,” although she admitted, “It wouldn’t hurt so bad if we didn’t love him and get to be loved” deeply by him.
Krystal’s words revealed that she never doubted her father’s love. She wrote, “He never made me wonder if he would be there for me.”
The Covel Family Will Have a Private Ceremony
On February 10th, The Oklahoman reported on a private funeral service being planned by Toby’s immediate family. The article mentions that a public memorial service should be announced soon.
The family announced the private service on Toby’s social media account, and The Oklahoman confirmed their message through Toby’s publicist. The message said, “The Covel Family is hosting a private funeral service for family, band, and crew only in mid-February. A memorial service to honor Toby will be announced only on Toby’s socials shortly.”
Covel is Toby’s real last name. His immediate family includes Tricia and his three children, five grandchildren, a son-in-law, and a daughter-in-law.
Toby’s oldest daughter is Shelley who has a daughter named Presley and two boys named Sladen and Sawyer. Krystal married Andrew Sandubrae and has two daughters, Hensley and Kirby. Toby’s son, Stelen, recently married his wife, Haley.
Toby is also survived by his mother, Carolyn Joan Covel, his sister, Tonni Karan Covel-Moore, and his brother, Tracey Covel.
The private service announcement on social media also states that Toby’s family would prefer donations to the Toby Keith Foundation in his memory instead of flowers. Toby and Tricia started the Toby Keith Foundation to benefit children with cancer and their families in Oklahoma, and the family specifically requested donations to support the OK Kids Korral.
The Oklahoman reported that the OK Kids Korral, built by the Toby Keith Foundation, opened in 2013 and cost $9 million. The OK Kids Korral is a no-cost, “home-away-from-home” for families and children undergoing cancer treatment at the OU Medical Center.
