Alice Rochester Key

Greenville, SC

Alice Rochester Key, 104, passed away peacefully March 1, 2015.

Preceded in death by her parents, Otho Oglethorpe and Udora Marler Rochester, Alice grew up in Morton, Mississippi.

Proud of her Mississippi heritage, Alice gave credit to her good health and long life from her growing up on a dairy farm and "living the good life" there with her positive upbringing of strong family values.

Married to the love of her life, the late Leslie Lorenzo Key, Alice enjoyed her marriage for 47 years.

Traveling to many states, the couple enjoyed many different venues while raising their 6 children. Settling in Greenville, SC and calling it their last and most treasured place to live, the couple enjoyed their church and family more than anything.

A long time and dedicated member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Alice enjoyed working with the Presbyterian Women and with the children and youth programs. She was most noted for her work with meal planning and preparations for various programs and events with the church, and was instrumental in the first Meals on Wheels program in Greenville. She was awarded the distinguished Lifetime Member of the Women of the Church. She was well-known for her giftedness in hospitality, which was shown by her opening her home to many for meals and a place to stay and, one time, even a place for a wedding.

Her siblings, Winnie Waldrip, Lessye Bullock, Margaret Donnell, and James Rochester all preceded her in death, as did her sons, Don Key, Jim Key, and Bill Key.

Grandchildren Jim Key, Jr. and Patricia Key preceded her in death as well.

Devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Alice loved her 6 children, 16 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild more than words can express.

Those left to cherish her memory include sons, Gene Key, and wife, Gayle Morgan Key, Jack Key, and wife, Mary Sue Ross Key, all of Greenville, and daughter, Alice Ann Key Thomas, and husband, Gary Thomas, of Buies Creek, NC; beloved grandchildren Donna Key Wyman (Jack), Stephen Key (Janice), Bill Key, Jr., Chas Key (Susan), Kem Key Erskine (Guy), Heyward Key (Ansley), Bryan Key (Joanna), Mary Leslie Key Anderson (Gregg), Meredith Key Conroy (Michael), Ross Key, Will Thomas (Melia), Ben Thomas (Carmen), Amie Thomas Bloom (Ian); 29 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.

Alice enjoyed life through decades of change, accepting many challenges with her strong faith guiding her through each. Friends held a high place in Alice's life, as she knew and loved too many to mention here. However, one who was more like a son than a friend was Bill Everingham.

Alice cherished her nieces and nephews, but two who were devoted to her and kept her in their thoughts and prayers often were Robert Donnell (Linda) and Joe Donnell (Anne).

Services will be Wednesday at 2:00 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church Greenville.

The family will greet friends after the service in the Sanctuary Atrium of the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2310 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC 29605; Meals on Wheels,15 Oregon Street, Greenville, SC 29605; Regency Hospice, 880 South Pleasantburg Drive, Suite 1A, Greenville, SC 29607; or to the charity of one’s choice.

The family would like to thank Alice's caregivers who cared for her lovingly and cheerfully and treated her as their own - Mary Smith, Charlene Ramsey, Alex Ramsey, Alicia Smith, and Latiffany Smith. The family would also like to thank Regency Hospice for their excellent care.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.mackeymortuary.com

The Mackey Mortuary