Richard Key

Richard Key obituary, Smiths Station, AL

Richard Key

Richard Key Obituary

Visit the Vance Brooks Funeral Home - Phenix City website to view the full obituary.

Mr. Richard Key, 88, of Smiths Station, AL, passed away Saturday, March 15, 2025 at the Columbus Hospice House in Columbus, GA.

A Celebration of Life will be held 1:00 pm EST, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at Vance Brooks Funeral Home in Phenix City, AL. A private interment will follow at Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery with military honors. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 pm, at the funeral home.

Mr. Key was born June 10, 1936, in LaGrange, GA, son of the late Hayde P. Key and Mary Hazel Grant Key. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force. Mr. Key retired from Equifax as the Director of Personnel Services. He also served the community in several capacities, serving as a Lee County Commissioner and a past President of the Alabama County Commissioners Association, Smiths Station City Council, Smiths Station Water Authority, Lee County Youth Development and various other boards serving the community. He was also an active 30 year member of the Smiths Station Ruritan Club serving in various leadership roles . Down through the years he has coached football at the Phenix City Boys Club and coached basketball at St. Patrick School. Mr. Key enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid Auburn fan. Above all he loved spending time with his family. Mr. Key spent many years attending St. Patrick Catholic Church. He had a servant’s heart for the community and its members that will continue to impact generations to come.

Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Curtis Key.

He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Irma “Linda” Bowes Key; four daughters, Diana Soliday, Julie Davis and husband Lee, Susan Belcher and Amy Cates; two sons, Richard Key II and wife Lisa and Daniel “Danny” Key and wife Robin; 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; numerous other family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude’s at www.stjude.org, the Loving Touch Veterans Assisted Living, 245 Lee Road 294, Smiths Station, AL 36877 or your favorite veteran’s charity in his memory.


To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Vance Brooks Funeral Home - Phenix City

3738 Hwy 431 N., Phenix City, AL 36867

Make a Donation
in Richard Key's name

Please consider a donation as requested by the family.

How to support Richard's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Richard Key's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more