DR. WESLEY FLETCHER KEY, Obituary, 16 Dec 1921, Coke County, TX

***************************************************************** 
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be 
reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other 
organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use 
this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, 
or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the 
listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter 
has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file 
permanently for free access.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ 

Submitted by Gerald W. Key - KeyNotes2000@aol.com 

13 March 2001
*****************************************************************

The obituary of Wesley Fletcher Key is found in the December 16, 1921 
issue of The Bronte Enterprise.

Out in the Bronte cemetery tonight is a new grave, upon which the 
flowers are yet fresh and green, but which will soon fade.  The newly 
made tomb holds all that is moral of and who was known and estimated by 
all throughout this section and other sections of Texas.  He was the 
pioneer citizen of this beautiful town.  He was the founder of Bronte, 
a faithful physician who in earlier days administered to all the people 
through this section in the hours of their illness.  He was Dr. W.F. Key.

Deceased was born in Georgia (since proven to be Alabama), February 18, 
1848, and departed this life at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Robert
 Sanders, at Wichita Falls, on the evening of December 6, 1921, making 
him to be 74 years of age. Nearly a third of a century ago, or speaking 
with exactness, it was May, 1890, that Dr. Key arrived and decided to 
make his home on the tract of land where Bronte is now located.  With 
his good wife he began the task of building and establishing a home here 
in what was then the far frontier country.  With the other scattering 
pioneers they suffered the privations of the frontier days.  Being a 
physician Dr. Key went anywhere at all hours and through all kind of 
weather. There were not many families of the pioneers in those days but 
that he at some time visited and administered to them as their physician.

Dr. Key was a man of the old South, proud in spirit and scholarly in 
his attainments, yet with all a warm, genial, southful, sympathetic 
nature.  His deepest humanities were always touched by the sufferings 
and the sorrows of others.  He was a man with splendid religious ideals.  
He was a member of the Methodist church, and for about forty years.  He 
was a charter member of the local Methodist church and was always ready 
and willing to help not only his own church but every other worthy cause 
whether it was directly religious or not.  He was public spirited and 
progressive.  He always stood for education and the things that make 
life worthwhile.  He has left his impress on this fair little town that 
he found in the days of his settling here, to build his fortune, raise 
his family, and spend his days, which will never be blotted out.

Out yonder now in the silent, the companion of his youth, who Went Home 
to be with God some six years ago, are sleeping side by side, neath the 
boughs of the old mesquite tree that stands at the foot of their graves.  
The hearts of children and grandchildren whom he loved and who loved him 
and a great company of friends are left in sadness.  Yet their sadness, 
sorrow is not without hope, for through Christ shall he and all others 
in that land of fadeless light and sad farewells, but we shall be forever 
with the Lord.  Thank God for the Christian’s hope of a glorious 
immortality.

Eight children are left to mourn the loss of their father.  They are 
Mrs. J.E. McCleskey, San Angelo; H.R. Key and F.O. Key of Bronte; V.O. 
Key, Lamesa; Mrs. Daisy Merchant, Alvin; Mrs. Robert Sanders, Wichita 
Falls; Ira F. Key, Cameron; Mrs. Everett Montgomery, San Antonio.  To 
those the writer extends sympathy in this hour of bereavement.

The funeral at the Methodist church Thursday afternoon was most 
befitting; it was the church in which he aided in funding and to which 
he gave much of his time and strength in the days of his activity.  
It was a touching and beautiful tribute paid to his splendid life by 
his former pastor, Rev. T.L. Sorrels of Mansfield.  The floral 
offerings were beautiful and bore mute testimony to the love and 
esteem cherished for him by those who gathered to pay the last tribute 
to his memory.

Like David, he served his generation by the will of God and fell on 
sleep.  Peaceful and undisturbed be his rest, till Jesus comes again.  
					D.M. West, Editor