Richard Neal Key

Richard Neal Key, 78, passed away on Friday, November 9, 2018 in the presence of his wife, Margaret, and “his girls”, as he was fond of saying, Kara, Kendra and Kristen. Richard was born in Wichita Falls, Texas on April 1, 1940 to his parents, Neal and Lillie Mae LeCroy Key.

Richard spent his childhood living in several towns throughout Texas while his father worked for the Katy Railroad. Growing up he enjoyed fishing, being outdoors and Scouting. His father taught him to fix almost anything, a much needed skill taking care of his wife, three daughters, five granddaughters and two sons-in-laws.   Richard graduated from Woodward High School in Woodward, Oklahoma in 1958, and he was fortunate to attend his 60 ^th high school reunion only a month ago.     He continued his education at Oklahoma State University with a degree in Electrical Engineering.   On August 14, 1960, he married his high school sweetheart, Margaret, and they have been abundantly blessed for over 58 years.   They moved to Dallas in 1963 where Richard began his career at Texas Instruments. While there he completed a Masters of Electrical Engineering at Southern Methodist University.   Richard continued his career in Satellite Communications at Rockwell International, Scientific Atlanta, and General Dynamics. During those early years in Dallas and Plano, they made incredible lifelong friends, and celebrated the birth of their three daughters. The family has many happy memories of sailing and fishing at Lake Texoma. In 1981 Richard and Margaret moved their family to Dunwoody, Georgia where they spent twenty two years and met many wonderful friends. To be near their first Grandchild and extended family, they moved back to Dallas in 2003, settling in Frisco.

Richard was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law and friend. His most happy times were spent with his family, friends and pets. There wasn’t a pet anywhere that didn’t love him. He was a lifelong tinkerer and he loved sitting quietly working on projects, sipping his “Jack” and smoking his pipe.   He was always available to help anyone, anytime, day or night. His gentle kindness will be remembered by all who knew him.   He raised his daughters with patience and compassion sprinkled with his dry sense of wit. His daughters will fondly remember his gentle scolding, “Girls, If you don’t behave, I’m gonna lower the boom,” knowing that he never would.

Richard is survived by his wife, Margaret Jane Speaks Key; his three daughters, Kara Donohoe and her husband Brian, Kendra Fadel and her husband Greg and Kristen Key; granddaughters, Aisling Donohoe, Lily Fadel, Alannah Donohoe, Aoife Donohoe, and Aine Donohoe; sister-in-law Karen Hall Key; nephew, Sean Key, niece, Jennifer Strenge and her husband Alex, their children Cole, Julien and Jackson, and great niece Ryleigh; sister-in-law, Sarah Allen, nephews William and Richard and niece Sheila; sister-in-law Joan Speaks, nephews Tommy and David, and niece Alissa; cousin Ivan LeCroy and many more extended family and wonderful friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Neal and Lillie Mae LeCroy Key, his younger brother, John David Key, and his nephew, Stephen Key.

Friends and family are invited to join in a Remembrance and Celebration of Life at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, November 23, 2018 at Allen Family Funeral Options, 2112 W Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, TX 75023. There will be a visitation one hour prior to service at 1:00 P.M.

Should you so desire, the family suggests that memorial gifts may be made in Richard’s name to Operation Kindness at www.operationkindness.org, Legacy Boxer at www.savetheboxers.com or a charity