Marie Julia (Sobotik) Keys

Marie Julia Keys, 89 of Houston, TX entered into eternal rest and peace on February 2, 2019. Marie was born on August 28, 1929 in Frenstat, TX to Edmund and Amelia Sobotik. In 1936 Marie moved to the Houston Heights with her family where she attended All Saints Elementary. Marie was such a good student; she skipped the 8th grade and attended Reagan High School. After graduation, she worked as a waitress at Cook’s Hoedown and met the love of her life Lemoine (Moe) Keys while Moe was playing in a band. They married in 1949 and had three sons Darwin, Greg and Roger. In 1963, Marie and Moe opened Little Moe’s, a dance hall that was known for serving the hard-working farming community of North West Harris County. Marie ran the bar with the help from friends and family including her brother Milton and his wife Rose. Moe often played in the band on weekends. A customer of Little Moe’s gave Marie and Moe the opportunity to enter into the construction industry and Lone Star Utility was born in 1967. Marie worked as a secretary at the new communications business while Moe was in the field supervising construction.

Taking care of her family was Marie’s top priority. It was normal for her to work all day at the business and return home to cook a four-course meal for her family. This was Marie. The ultimate wife, mother and grandmother. Not out of obligation but out of the love for her family. With the success of the business, Moe and Marie bought land in Frenstat, TX where Marie grew up. Known as “the country”, the extended Keys and Sobotik families spend weekends at the property to this day. Countless memories were made in the country with family and friends. Marie was an amazing cook and host. She was most at home handing you a beer and making sure you were having fun. She lived life to the fullest and the impact she had on her friends and family will never be forgotten. We will walk in the shadow of her greatness. Our Marie, mother, sister, grandmother and friend, rest in peace. We know you will be waiting in the Kingdom of God for us with a plate of food in the fridge and smile.

Marie is survived by her loving family which includes; son Darwin Keys Sr and wife Rosemary Makus Keys, son Greg Keys and wife Susan Daugherty Keys, son Roger Keys and wife Kathy Kinsella Keys; Sister-in-law Rose Buyajian Sobotik; grandchildren Darwin Keys Jr and wife Melissa Keys, David Keys and wife Lauren Keys, John Keys and wife Wendy Rios, Laura Keys and husband Jimmy Motelet, Blake Keys, Brian Keys, Kaitlin Keys; great grandchildren Bentley, Jaxon, Alexis, Lexi, Lucy and Hunter. She is preceded in death by her parents Edmund Sobotik and Amelia Charanza Sobotik, siblings Earnest Sobotik, Eddie Sobotik, Marcela Sobotik Ofczarzak, Margaret Sobotik Swonke and Milton Sobotik.

Family and friends gathered during a visitation from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, in the chapel of Waltrip Funeral Directors, in Houston, Texas, where the Rosary was recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 8, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, also in Houston. Following a reception at the church, the Rite of Committal followed at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.