As a teenager, she lived with Dr. & Gale Engleman in Georgetown. She compiled the most complete history of the Shelby Walts family to date.
Her obit reads: Alice Faye, 88, a resident of Albuquerque for 35 years, passed away Saturday, October 7, 2000. Alice Faye was born the first of fourteen children to Shelby and Maggie Walts on January 3, 1912 in Georgetown, Indiana. After graduating high school, she married her basketball coach, Amza Arthur Key, in 1932. Together they raised four children and a house full of pure-bred Boston Terriers in Indianapolis. During WWII she supported the war effort as an employee of an aircraft engine factory. Amza and Alice Faye moved to the southwest in 1965 where they taught briefly in the Navajo nation and then settled in Albuquerque. Alice Faye worked at Sears at Coronado Center until she retired in 1977.
She loved croquet and miniature golf and played competitively with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren through their last summer together. She also loved mental tests and puzzles, and would not give up, even if someone offered to tell her the answer. Alice Faye never forgot a birthday. She was famous for giving a box of her home-baked chocolate chip cookies that was passed around as the last gift at every party. Her date pudding made every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner special.
She loved genealogy and compiled a family history for both the Walts and Key families. Her warm, outspoken personality helped her make friends easily, and she left many across the country who, along with her large family, will miss her dearly. Alice Faye is survived by three children, Arthur Key and wife, Jean, Donna Kerr, Tom Key and wife, Elia; 15 grandchildren, Christy Dunbar and husband, CP, Mike Key, Brad Key and wife, Judy, Layne Clemenz and wife, Rebecca, Kim Bowen and husband, Chuck, Andrew Dressler, Bryan Clemenz, Ted Dressler and wife, Diana, Bobby Clemenz, Jenine Cole, Doug Key and wife, Michelle, Jason Key, Brian Key, Scott Key and Elizabeth Key; 23 great-grandchildren, Chris Key, Steven Key, Jordan Key, Brad Dunbar, Kim Dunbar, Bailey Key, Melanie Clemenz, Ben Bowen, Jade Dunbar, Chris Bowen, Brady Key, Corey Clemenz, Lynsey Rae Cole, Zachary Dressler, Beth Bowen, Rhyan Clemenz, Jesse Cole, Justin Cole, Mariah Clemenz, Casey Dressler, Kendall Clemenz, August Key, and AJ Cooper; and 10 siblings, Mildred Massey, Wanda Reinhardt, Charles Walts, Rada Walts, Harold Walts, Glenn Walts, Martha Mayes, Donald Walts, Gladys Hughes, Patty Lind. She is preceded in death by her husband, Amza; daughter, Dixie Clemenz; grandson, Matthew Key; sisters, Mary Sherrill, Dolly Murphy, Helen Murphy, Rella Walden and Dorothy Martin; and brothers, Wayne Walts, Earl Walts and Roy Walts.
She was a member of the Methodist Church since 1925, and was very active in First United Methodist here in Albuquerque. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church, Fourth and Lead SW, on Monday afternoon, October 9, 2000 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in memory of Alice Faye Key to Presbyterian Hospice, 8300 Constitution NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. |