Toby Keith‘s family has announced the plans for his funeral. In a statement posted on social media, the family reveals that a private service will be held later this month, with a public memorial planned for a later date.

“The Covel Family is hosting a private funeral service for family, band and crew only in mid-February,” the family reveals. “A memorial service to honor Toby will be announced only on Toby’s socials shortly. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations to The Toby Keith Foundation/OK Kids Korral.”

 

Keith began the OK Kids Korral to help children battling cancer, which includes lodging, meals and more.

“When you go in and meet with these families, which I do, it’s like they had no idea (what to do) when they got there, they were just desperate and immediately on the road to go take care of their kid,” Keith previously told The Oklahoman. ‘My kid’s got a tumor, my kid’s got cancer, my kid’s got this, and I’ve got to find the best (care), where do I go?’ They go to Oklahoma City. Boom. They get here, then they see their kid’s taken care of, and then they start worrying about, ‘OK, what supplies do I need? Did I bring deodorant, did I bring shampoo, have I got a razor, where are we gonna eat, where are we gonna stay?’”

“And they get there … and just all of a sudden they don’t want for nothing,” he continued. “You need a Walmart card, here you go. The kid’s got toys, you wanna watch something in the theater, need a chapel? We’ve got food every day, people cooking, so you don’t really need anything. We get you to and from the hospital, right across the street. It’s just a beautiful thing.”

Keith, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2021, passed away on February 5. His son, Stelen Covel, offered a touching tribute to his father on social media.

“You are the strongest man I have ever known,” Covel said. “A fighter. A true titan of your industry. My guiding star. My coach. My hero. An embodiment of the American Spirit. You are a man whose strength, prowess, and talent could only be trumped by his ability to be a father and husband. Your impact is forever stamped on the world and on millions of people, yet not one person knew you the way I did. You were my biggest champion and the guiding light in my darkest times. The best mentor a man could ask for.

“You held a passion that was greater than mountains and it radiates through every lyric and chord,” he continued. “In the everlasting echo from the legacy of your music, you leave me strength and faith to lean on in the silence that follows. You truly did it your way, from the starting gates to the finish line, and never apologized for it. The only thing I truly ever wanted in life was to make you proud. I promise I will continue to make you proud. It’s not goodbye forever; it’s just goodbye for now. I love you cowboy.”

Make a donation to the OK Kids Korral here.