Lucy Thornton Key

1911 - 2010

BORN

1911

DIED

2010

About

Sam Houston High School University of North Texas

Lucy Key Obituary

Lucy Thornton Key, 98, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 20, 2010. Celebration of life: 10 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church of Arlington, 313 N. Center St., Arlington. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Harold Key Scholarship Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 152592, Arlington, Texas 76015. The fund was established in 1987 to provide college scholarships to seniors at Sam Houston High School. Lucy Thornton Key was born Sept. 11, 1911, in Ida. She was one of nine children raised by their parents on a farm in Ida. Lucy received her bachelor's degree from Oklahoma College of Women and a master's from the University of North Texas. Lucy married Harold Key on Aug. 19, 1934, in Chickasha, Okla. During her 35-year teaching career, she taught in Verden, Okla., Pilot Point, and Arlington, finishing her teaching career at C.B. Berry Elementary School. She had been a resident of Arlington since 1953. She retired in 1974. Lucy and her husband Harold were honored by the naming of Key Elementary School in 1975. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Arlington, life member of Texas Retired Teachers Association, Arlington Retired School Employees Association, Arlington Women of Rotary, and was a Paul Harris Fellow. Her neighbors of the Parkview community will fondly remember her beautiful iris beds and her immaculate lawn that she continued to mow into her late 80s. She was active in the community, loved to cook and garden, and was an avid sports fan of the Rangers, Cowboys, Horned Frogs, Key Elementary Colts, and all Arlington high schools, especially the Sam Houston High School Texans. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Key; son, Charlie Key; father, Toliver Espy Thornton; mother, Jennie Lee Dodson; and eight brothers and sisters. Survivors: Son, Harold Key Jr. and wife, Judi, of Grapevine; grandchildren, Leigh Ellen Key and Jonathan Key of Arlington; daughter-in-law, Joy Ellen Key of Arlington; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

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Published by Star-Telegram on Jun. 28, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Lucy Key

6 Entries

July 1, 2010

Harold and Lucy Key were an inspiration for all of at Key Elementary as well as the entire school district. I remember Lucy when she taught at C. B. Berry. She was a very sweet and gentle person. Little did I know at the time that I would open Key Elementary School in 1975. We had the opportunity to talk with them both on several occasions and also the children had a chance to meet them. They were always so gracious and respectiful of all of us at Key.

Eddie F. Mayhugh

Sherri Lamb

July 1, 2010

Mrs. Key was my 4th grade teacher at Berry in the 1970-71 school year. She helped me overcome test anxiety. I still have a gift she gave me...a well-worn paperback dictionary. Whenever I'm asked about memorable teachers I've had, she's up at the top of the list. Although it wasn't my original plan, I've been teaching for over eight years now and have my diagnostician's certificate as well. Mrs Key was a true inspiration!
Sherri (Parish) Lamb

Dorothy Davis

June 29, 2010

Franklin and I were sad to hearof your Mother's passing. We always loved to see your Mom and Dad. They would come to see Pilot Point in football playoffs.
Dorothy Davis and Franklin O'Dell

Viray coe

June 28, 2010

Perry & I miss Mrs Key very much. We will miss all the over the fence visit's,
and they call's I would receive "Vi - is Perry home - I baked him some cookies will you send him over to get them". And she always shared her date's that she would receive from her sister. I have many other wonderful stories we shared, that I could go on & on. It has been a blessing to know her and that we had a chance to live next door to such a wonderful Lady. We will alway's keep her family in our heart's. And we would like to Thank them for sharing her with us.
Viray Coe & Perry Taylor (Parkview)

Fred/Donna Kuhlmann

June 28, 2010

Lucy will be greatly missed by Fred and I and everyone in our neighborhood. Lucy was an inspiration to everyone who met her. We have had the great priviledge of knowing her for 3 years. She always had a smile and a story to tell. She was interviewed for our neighborhood newsletter and she would just chuckle and get tickled at herself as she told the story about her childhood, her husband Harold romancing her and being a mother of two active boys. I laughed right along with her as she enjoyed reminiscing about days gone by.
Everyone who knew Lucy...loved her and she loved everyone. She just had a way about her that you couldn't help yourself. She was the most active person I ever met and she put me to shame. She loved taking care of her yard with her many array of flowers and bushes. I can look out my window and still see her out there picking up leaves and twigs. Lucy....you will be greatly missed but the wonderful memories that you have given us will always be with us to put a smile on our face. We love you dearly and will see you again some day.
With Love in our hearts,
Fred and Donna

June 28, 2010

We will miss Mrs. Key terribly in our neighborhood. She was such a delight to know. Shirley Patterson, Parkview

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