MIDLAND - She Ruth Key died Aug. 18, 2022 in Midland. She was born to Clyde and Mossie Akins in Nelta, on Aug. 21, 1929. She attended elementary school in Nelta and graduated from Sulphur Bluff High School in 1946. She received a Bachelor of Science from East Texas State Teacher’s College in Commerce. Her working life was spent teaching 1st and 2nd grades in Tarzan until the Grady school was built, and teaching 2nd grade in Grady until she retired in 1992. She taught school for 32 years, only taking a break for her three boys.
She married Bruce Key on May 19, 1955, and they were the proud parents of three sons: Leland, Larry and Lynn. Bruce, She and the boys were active members of the Tarzan community and especially the Grady school system. She loved a good garden and enjoyed freezing or canning vegetables, especially black-eyed peas. After shelling so many peas over the years, She saw an electric pea sheller in a magazine and immediately ordered it for $300 (she said it was worth every penny!). She was an amazing cook. Fresh baked homemade rolls were a staple at every meal, and there was always a cake or pie for dessert. She loved to crochet, and she blessed family members and countless friends with afghans, name doilies and baby blankets. She was a breast cancer survivor. Next to her love for Bruce and the boys, was her love for her eight grandchildren. For the grandkids, nothing topped spending time on the farm in Tarzan with Grandma She and Papa Bruce. Family was very important to She, especially the annual Akins Family Reunion. The yearly reunions were filled with good food and lots of catching up with her brother and sisters and their families.
She is survived by her husband, Bruce, and sons, Leland (Pam) Key of San Angelo, Larry (Jennifer) Key of Prosper, Lynn (Dee Ann) Key of Midland; grandchildren: Brittany (Cody) Roberts of Dripping Springs, Courtney (Aaron) Pribanic of Frisco, Caitlyn (James) Raikes of Celina, Chase (Torie) Key of McKinney, Hayden (Kim) Key of Midland, Fallon Key and Kylar Key of San Angelo, and Emily Key of Midland; great grandchildren: Paisley, Kerry, Nolan, Piper and Cooper; sister Delonia (Ken) Mullins of Denison, brother Jerry Akins of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and brother-in-law Tommy Todd of Denison and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Fay Todd, sister-in-law Sharon Akins and nephew Jim Akins.
Graveside services were Aug. 22 at Trinity Memorial Park in Big Spring.
Donations can be made to Grady ISD, Grady ISD Education Foundation or to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements were under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory in Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.