Keith Aaron Neill

.Keith Aaron Neill, our dad would want you to know that good music was playing when he was called home on June 6th, 2024. He faced Hemochromatosis that then led to Cirrhosis like the tough MF’er he was for three months but lost the short battle at the young age of 65. Heaven made a mistake and took the wrong guy. He lived a great life but was taken too soon.

Keith was the epitome of how we should live our lives. He was so much more than just a loving husband and father. Keith was an avid golfer, lover of baseball (hats and the game), a stranger to no one, mentor to many, and father to all. He was a foodie and master of the grill, a wine connoisseur, leader of the dance floor, stubborn, and dramatic. He was always willing to lend a helping hand but don’t ask him to help you move. He was a devout Chiefs fan but also an incredible bandwagoner to any team his daughters were in relation to. He enjoyed the word “f**k”, Azzoro was his favorite cologne, and he never met a beach he didn’t like. It was hard to play a song that Keith couldn’t identify the title, artist, and album but he was also a master of making up his own silly lyrics to well-known songs. He preferred chardonnay, margaritas and Topo Chico, brats, oysters, and never passed up on a steak whether from his own grill or any of his numerous favorite steakhouses. His famous sayings were “but I will say this” and “they love me here”. He taught his daughters to dance to loud music, never take themselves seriously, and don’t take any bullshit. He loved his wife unconditionally. He lived by who you are is how you treat others, he always kept you on your toes, and was unapologetically himself.

Born on December 22nd in 1958, Keith was raised in Kansas City, Missouri along with his older brother Sonny and half-sister Treva. He was the only one of his family members who made it to college where he attended Stephen F. Austin State University from 1978 to 1981, receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing with a Minor in Management. During his time at SFA he was a brother of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and proudly played for the Lumberjacks baseball team. He was best known as a great brother, teammate, roommate, and leader during his college years. As the Worthy Master of ATO, Keith dedicated his time to leading the fraternity for a year with great success. On the Baseball field Keith started as a freshman and excelled during his four years at SFA as a leading hitter, great fielder, and he even pitched a bit in his last two years.

After college he became a leader in the beverage alcohol industry with forty-two plus years of experience. Twenty-five of those being an executive for Republic National Distributing Company. During his tenure at RNDC Keith left an indelible mark on so many he worked with. Keith helped launch several careers and earned numerous distinguished accolades, creating life-long friends along the way. Following RNDC Keith went on to help launch a startup small batch Bourbon from the ground up, co-founded Key Components Tasting Company with his wife Christine, and started a consulting company where he brought his expertise to those in the wine and spirits industry before retiring in December of 2023.

While at RNDC he met and fell in love with Christine. Keith created a wonderful life with Christine bringing two beautiful, outspoken, smart (one book and one street), talented, and hilarious daughters into the world. Keith and Christine enjoyed traveling the world together; a few trips Olivia and Georgia had the honor of getting invited to. Keith and Christine’s ability to make each other laugh is something no one could forget. Keith was Christine’s forever boyfriend and prime example of how a husband should love their wife. Keith had qualities of a husband Olivia looked for and found in her fiancé, Alex and qualities we know Georgia will also find in a man someday.

Keith spent most of his life living in Dallas, Texas but his true home was at Table Rock Lake in Missouri where countless summers were spent on the water and Christmases in the snow with his wife, two daughters, and a rotating door of friends and family.

If you ever met Keith you would not forget it. He used humor in the hardest of times and that continued while he was in the hospital. Until his last day he maintained his quick wit and absurdity. I'm so sad for everyone who lost him, but I grieve for those who didn't have the privilege of knowing him.

He is survived by his older brother Sonny, his half-sister Treva, and will be greatly missed by Christine, his wife of nearly 30 years, his eldest daughter Olivia and her fiancé Alex, and his youngest daughter Georgia.

Keith is now reunited with his parents, grandparents, father-in-law, friends, and the wagging tales of the beloved family dogs, Schnapps and Weiffer at a dance party in the sky and is surely telling everyone he’ll kick their asses if they don’t participate.

Keith will be celebrated at White’s Chapel in the Grace Chapel on Friday, July 12th at 185 S. White Chapel Blvd. in Southlake. We ask that you please consider wearing something other than black. Keith never took life too seriously and he hardly ever wore dark colors. We believe he would love to see a beautiful Chapel filled with friends and family in color to honor him. A party (because Dad wouldn't have it any other way) will follow at our dear friends Sharon and Rick Powell’s.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the following in Keith’s honor.

Donate Life America at https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/5595884 While Keith wasn't able to receive a liver transplant, we understand firsthand how important organ donation is. Please consider donating to Donate Life America to help save those diagnosed with Cirrhosis and others in need of life saving transplants.

15 and the Mahomies - Dad’s love for the Chiefs and especially Patrick Mahomes was unquestionable. Donating to 15 and the Mahomies will help support amazing charities and nonprofits within Kansas and Missouri that help improve the lives of children.

Christine, Olivia, and Georgia welcome memories and photos for a slideshow at olivianeill12@gmail.com .

Until we meet again, Cheers Randy!