Barrie Key

Barrie Key Barrie Arthur Key came into this world in March, 1947 and left us on December 2, 2014. He was born in Oakland, California where he lived until 1958 when his family moved to Grover Beach. He always joked that he felt like he had been dropped on another planet, leaving a city of sidewalks and paved streets to a small one street town with one grocery store and dirt roads. He went from a carefree 12 year old riding his bike with his friends to what he called a manual laborer when he worked alongside his father, John Key and our favorite cousin Gene Balcom to build the Key Trailer Park and our new house/office building. Even at that young age he showed the integrity and determination that made him the man he became to be. He graduated from Arroyo Grande High School in 1965 and went on to earn a Bachelors degree in business from Cal Poly. Barrie loved big, he loved his family, he loved his friends, he loved his cars, and he loved to get everyone together for gatherings at his home. I will always remember the big guy with his huge smile welcoming me to his home. A true testament to his character was that his circle of friends stretched decades, from his childhood friends from Oakland to his high school buddies he made a point to keep in contact with them all. He and his friends recently revived the Royal Knights Car club, a club that they had started in high school. He definitely had a sense of style; his go to outfit was his shorts, bowling shirt and sandals with socks, although if the situation dictated it or if it were cold enough he would wear long pants. In July 2013 at his wedding ceremony to Jane Key we all had a good laugh on if he would wear his signature shorts. Not to keep you in suspense he did wear long pants and I lost my bet. His wedding to Jane combined his love for her with his love for cars and he had a Wedding and Car Show. Who does that? Well I guess Barrie Key does. Jane filled a huge hole in Barrie's life after Linda Key his wife of 35 years passed away. We will be forever grateful to her for that, it is a travesty that they did not get to spend more time together. Wesley, his stepson, in his own words said he wouldn't have traded that short time for anything in the world and will be forever grateful for it. He loved you Wes and cherished the time he had with you too. Barrie certainly had his opinion on things for those who knew him I will simply leave it at that. He loved and was proud of his sons and daughters: John and Jennifer Key, Greg and Hayley Key and Scott and Hillary Key; grandchildren: Abigail and Rebecca Key, Noah Key, and Madison and Logan Key. He was best friends with his brother Dale for their entire lives together and was loved and adored by his sister Roxane Key, his brother-in- law Jeffrey Scott and his brother Jeffrey Key. He is also survived by his cousins: Tom and Liz Ballinger, Janine Turner, Perry Balcom and Byron Balcom, Diane Scott and Clyde Lindberg; sister-in-law, Aida Key; his nieces: Jackie Key, Pattie and Maggie Flores and nephews: Gilbert Flores, Douglas Key and Wade Scott. This story would not be complete without a shout out to his friends who made his life whole, he loved you guys and I know that you will miss him as much as we do. "God Speed Barrie Key," from Hap and Gail Harbert, Bud and Twila Bailey, Greg Craig, Rhett Retzloff, Curtis McFadden, Russ and Sherri Haynes, Marcus and Barbara Harmon, Kurt Scheer, Paul and Lynette Moerman and his friends and co-workers at Lyons Magnus. Services are at 1:00pm at Marshall Spoo Mortuary, at 1239 Longbranch in Grover Beach, on Thursday, December 11. A Celebration of Life will be immediately following at 259 Tally Ho Rd., Arroyo Grande, California. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the National Cancer Foundation. Sign his guestbook at sanluisobispo.com/obituaries