Perry Key

Perry S Key, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend passed away on February 20th, 2025, at the monumental age of 106. As his age when he passed indicates, Perry's life was storied and impressive.

Perry was born on August 7th, 1918, in Plainville, Indiana to Rev. Perry Key and Versie Lee Snider. Perry was the youngest of four siblings and his older brothers and sister doted on him. Rev. Key's ministration took the family all over Southern Indiana, and Perry moved 8 times before starting 9th grade. Unfortunately, his mother passed away when he was 15 but his father remarried and as Perry stated upon his stepmother, Josephine's passing, "Few people have had the good fortune to have had two saintly women for mothers as we."

Perry graduated from Manuel Training High School in Indianapolis, IN in 1936 and enrolled at Indiana University. Though he initially trained to be a physician, he found the curriculum wasn't a good match, especially the required German language courses. He switched to law and graduated from Indiana Law in 1943. Being that this was the height of WWII, in addition to his law studies, Perry worked at the Allison Engine Company building airplane engines. Thankfully, due to his low draft number and status as husband and father, he was never drafted into WWII. Perry joined his brother Sheldon's law practice once he left Allison and the two were law partners until Perry moved to Albuquerque, NM in 1949.

Perry met the love of his life and future bride, Martha Jane Key, when they were in 8th grade. The two were neighbors and started dating in their senior year when Jane asked Perry to a Leap Year dance at the church they both attended. They were wed on September 17th, 1938, in Indianapolis and were married for 76 years before Jane's passing in 2014. Perry and Jane had four children, Perry Richard, Paulette Sue, Sally Anne and Dennis "Denny" Mickel. When asked what his secret was for such a long life, Perry would reply, "Being married to a good woman."

In 1949 the family moved from Indiana to Albuquerque, New Mexico and Perry established a law firm where he practiced for 50 years. He could regularly be found holding court at the Highway House Café or Mannie's with his colleagues, and was loved and respected in his community. He helped found the Trinity United Methodist Church and was Rocky Mountain vice president of the Family Motor Coach Association. Perry and Jane loved to travel and visited all 50 United States except for Minnesota (no offense Minnesota, you're just too cold!). Perry loved to sing and play the organ and was a baritone in the Trinity church choir. In addition, he taught Sunday school at Trinity for 50 years. Above all else, Perry loved spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a hero and mentor to many and cherished by all who knew him.

Perry is survived by his loving family and many friends including his children, Paulette Allen, Sally Cawley and Denny Key; his grandchildren, Jessica Mickey, Nicholas Key, Brian Key, Jennifer Allen and Alexis Benavidez, and his 10 great grandchildren. Perry was greeted in an epic afterlife party by his beloved wife, Jane Key, his son, Perry Key, his son-in-law Jim Allen, his grandchildren Kevin Key and Melissa Hunt, his great granddaughter Lauren Key, his parents, brothers and sister, and countless friends.

Services in celebration of Perry's life will be held at St. John's United Methodist Church, 2626 Arizona St. NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87110 on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, at 2:00pm.