At age 102, Bertha Colita McAlister Key passed away March 10, 2011. “Bert” was born on March 3, 1909, in Brownwood, Texas, to Allen and Mary Jane McAlister. After graduating from Brownwood High, she attended Howard Payne College where she earned a teaching certificate and began teaching in rural West Texas at the age of 19. In 1938, she married John Elton Key of Wilson. In 1941 she graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in education and continued to teach for many years in Lubbock.
Bertha was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lubbock for over 50 years where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. She worked as a volunteer at the Ranching Heritage Center, Methodist Hospital, Meals-on-Wheels, Foreign Student Exchange and Cub Scouts. She was the past president of the Lubbock Cotton Auxiliary and served on the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Maid of Cotton Committee. Bertha was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lubbock for over 50 years, where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir.
She is survived by her four sons, Dr. John C. Key and wife Nita of Lubbock, Stuart Key of Tulsa, OK, Alan Key and wife Terri of San Antonio, and Woody Key and wife Ruth of Flower Mound; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John E. Key; brothers, Martin, Tom, Lee and R.B. McAlister; sisters, Tina and Lucille; grandson, Alan Bradley Key II; and great-grandson, Noah Tyler Key Sanders.
Services will be held at the First Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Monday, March 14th. Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Franklin Bartley Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Bertha Key Scholarship Fund at Sharp Academy, Meals-on-Wheels or a charity of choice. To leave online condolences, please visit www.franklin-bartley.com.
