Milford Marion Key, Jr.

Milford Marion Key, Jr., 94, passed into the arms of Jesus, at home, on October 18, 2022, surrounded by his family. A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Park Cities Presbyterian Church at 2pm on Saturday, October 22, 2022.

Milford Marion Key, Jr. was born on January 15,1928, in Dallas, Texas, to Tillie Jewell Mathis and Milford Marion Key, Sr. M.M. attended high school in Dallas and in 1945 graduated from N.R. Crozier Technical High School. He attended engineering school at Southern Methodist University and in 1951 graduated from University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration. While at North Texas, he met his bride, Roma Fletcher. M.M. and Roma married on November 3, 1951, in Mexia, Texas, almost 71 years ago. He later attended the Smaller Company Management Program at Harvard Business School in Boston. During the Korean Conflict, he joined the U.S. Navy Reserve and was on active duty from February 1952 until December 1953.

In 1954, after discharge from the U. S. Navy Reserve, M.M. joined his father at K – D Manufacturing Co., a rough terrain forklift manufacturing company, in Cleburne, Texas. It was in Cleburne where their two daughters, Rebecca and Susan, were born. In 1966, M.M. relocated the family and the business to Waco, Texas. In 1981, he sold 51% of the business to a French company and the name of the Waco company was changed to K – D Manitou. M.M. remained President until 1986 when the balance of the company was sold to Manitou; the name again changed to Manitou North America and M.M. retired.

M. M. and Roma joined the Austin Avenue United Methodist Church shortly after they moved to Waco. He served as Chairman of the Administrative Board and on numerous committees at Austin Avenue, as well as volunteering to maintain the church’s financial records. M.M. was a long-time member of the Board of Directors of Community Bank and Trust and served on many different committees at the bank. He also served on numerous other boards and committees such as the Waco Municipal Airport Advisory Board, Goodwill Industries, Ridgewood Country Club and the Vanguard College Preparatory School. He was a member of Waco Chamber of Commerce, Texas Manufacturers Association and the Industrial Equipment Manufacturers Council and was a long-time member and past President of the Industrial Truck Association. He was a licensed single and multi-engine land instrument rated pilot and an avid hunter, fisherman and golfer. Above all else, his greatest pleasure was spending time with family, especially his grandchildren, who adored him.

As a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend & employer, he was diligent and deliberate, devoted, patient, honest and dependable. Always with an encouraging comment, he found humor in every situation. Friends and family knew him affectionately as “M”. Although many beloved friends and family members have gone before him, he will be remembered with a smile and will be sorely missed by all who knew him, loved him and worked or played with him.

M. M. is preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife, Roma; two daughters, Rebecca Lutz and her husband Bobby of Dallas, Susan DeWitt and her husband Terry of Waco. Also surviving are his grandchildren Robert Proper Lutz and wife Aineta, Fletcher Key Lutz, Audrey DeWitt Beardain and husband Matthew, Thomas Riley DeWitt and wife Allie, all of Dallas. M. M. got to meet his first great-grandchild, Catherine Louise Lutz, the day before he went to heaven. His first great -randson is expected in January.

Memorials may be made to The Arc of McLennan County, which serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (4901 Lakewood Drive Waco, TX 76710), The Salvation Army or the charity of your choice.