Sr. John Key
d. October 13, 2013
He was born July 9, 1921 in Woodlawn, TN to the late Gus Frank and Mary Ruth Shelby Key. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Mary Louise Langford Key; brothers, William Key and Larry Buford Key.
He served in the US Navy during WWII and later as a Metal Worker at Langford's Welding and Steel Works, as Maintenance Forman at Trane, Pipe Fitter at TVA and later founded Key's Home Maintenance. He was also a member of Trenton Assembly of God Church, a member of Masonic Lodge 89, VFW and American Legion.
He is survived by son, John H. (Sharon) Key, II; daughter, Joan E. (Warren) Zufall; brothers, Jesse Edward (Katherine) Key, Eugene "Pappy" (Janet) Key; grandchildren, John H. (Amy) Key, III, Franklin Jason (Phyllis) Key, Shanna Ruth Key; great-grandchildren, Kayla Key (Doug) Bailey, John H. (Whitney) Key, IV, Cole Key, Victoria Key, Harley Key, Marianna Key, A.J. Rutherford, Isabella Key, Daniel Key; great-great-grandchildren, John H. Key,V; Bradyn Bailey and long time friend and companion, Johnnie Doris Steelman.
Pallbearers will be John H. Key, IV, Tim Goode, Jim Langley, Billy Batson, David Griffee, Doug Bailey. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Silvey and Jimmy King.
Online condolences maybe made at www.sykesfuneralhome.com
THIS IS MY POP
by: John Hughes Key, II
Today, Saturday the 12th day of October 2013 my father John Hughes Key, Sr. passed from this life into the next. He was born near Jordon Springs in Montgomery Co. TN to his parents, Gus Frank and Mary Ruth Key on their farm which is now a part of Fort Campbell Army post.
Pop met our mother Mary Louise Langford while attending Clarksville High School. The day after Pearl Harbor, Pop enlisted into the Navy and rode the bus to Nashville with Pat Edwards. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Guest DD 472, while she was under construction in Boston Harbor. He was a crew member on the U.S.S. Guest until the war ended.
Pop tells of the time he first went into battle. He said that it was in Bougainville in the South Pacific. Pop said that he was at his general quarters station at the base of the bridge and he was sitting on the ladder. He said "I looked up and saw all of those bombs falling out of those Jap planes and I jumped up and turned to run. Then it seemed like the Lord grabbed me by the seat of my pants and said," John it is 300 ft. to the bow and 40 ft. to the stern what will you do when you get there?" So I sat back down and made up my mind that I was going to live until I died! That I should Never hurry, Never worry, Do my best and Never make any plans that will devastate me if they don't come true."
After his tour in the Navy, Pop came back to Clarksville and married his childhood sweetheart Mary Louise Langford, daughter of John and Fanny Bell Langford. He worked for his father-in-law, John Langford, at Langford's Welding and Steel Works. He and Mom purchased a piece of land at what is now 435 Rossview Road and they built a basement house almost with their bare hands. Soon after that I was born, John H. Key II on the 29th day of May 1952. Five years later they contracted to have another house built on top of their basement house. One year later my sister, Joan Elizabeth Key arrived and then we were four.
A few years later Pop went to work at Train Air-conditioning Factory, He started out as a laborer and quickly moved up to foreman and finally as maintenance foreman over both buildings at the Trane facility.
After that Pop took his Navy time and joined TVA. He was a pipe fitter and worked as a laborer/foreman until his retirement from TVA.
Up on retiring from TVA, Pop fulfilled a lifelong dream and founded Key's Home Maintenance . He employed his two grandsons and granddaughter, John III, Franklin and Shanna. It was his desire to teach these two young men and anyone else who would listen, all of the great and wonderful things he had learned over the years. He felt that in large part he succeeded in leaving them and all of us with a vast world of knowledge. Oh yea, Shanna learned to put up dry wall and she kept the books!
Mother passed away on the 8th of October 1996. As you might imagine this was a devastating blow to Pop and the rest of us as well. Pop took it all in his strong and steady stride and recovered well. He always said he missed momma but knowing where she was, was grace enough. Pop never ever complained.
A while later Pop met Ms. Johnnie Doris Steelman at Senior Citizens in Clarksville, TN. "Ms. Doris" was a longtime friend and sompanion to my Pop and they loved one another dearly. She and her family loved Pop like he was their own, and he loved them.
My dad went to by the name of "Pop" because that is what I have called him for as long as I can remember. The fact of the matter is he was everyone's Pop. John H. Key Sr. was Pop to all who knew him, and you knew him 30 seconds after you met him!
Pop had many hobbies; antique bottle hunting, gardening, hunting, and fishing. Dancing, singing and he enjoyed watching all of God's creatures.
If you were to ask, what is Pop's favorite thing, I would have to say "People!" Pop loved his fellow man. Pop enjoyed doing things to give joy to others. Pop was a servant and a teacher. Pop was a humble man who loved unconditionally. Pop was a man with a great since of duty and loyalty. He was a wonderful listener and always believed in you. Pop was a jokester, he had a way to make light of hard times, that would put you at ease. Pop believed that you could only lead by example. He was a great encourager. My Pop had the heart and hands of a teacher. Let me show you he would say; do it like this.
I suppose that if I had the time I could write many volumes by listening to all of the stories of the people he helped and encouraged over his lifetime. He was a true good Samaritan.
To sum it all up, my Pop believed, lived and taught by these principles; Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!