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Elder Russel Key was born November 20, 1918 and died January 15, 2014. He was born in Audrain County, MO on the Key farm, on the Range Line Road North East of Centralia, Missouri. His parents were George A. Key and Ida Ellen (Butler) Key who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by two sisters and three brothers. He is survived by several nephews and nieces. The Key family moved to Randolph County in the year 1925 and has lived there until his passing. He met and married Sis. Julia Maude Wilson, December 5, 1943; she was the daughter of Walter Charles Wilson and Maude (Burton) Wilson. Sis. Julia died on January 14, 2006. His mother was a member of the Primitive Baptist’s and was true and faithful in her sin- cere belief. Her father was a deacon in the Primitive Baptist Church. In his youth, Bro. Russel read the Bible and was satisfied of the faith he was raised to believe. The first Sunday morning of July 1944, the first words he spoke to Sis. Julia were, “I am going to join church this morning! After song, service and prayer and preaching, the congregation was singing ; “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood”. He was baptized the first Sunday of August 1944. In the fall of 1946 he felt the call to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; and then on November 6, 1949 he was ordained into the Ministry. He was first called as assistant pastor of Mt. Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church near Madison, Missouri and later as pastor. He wondered where he would preach as there was only one Sunday each month at Mt. Pleasant. However it was not long until three other churches asked him to serve as their pastor. He was the pastor of Mt. Pleasant and Chariton Primitive Baptist Churches at his passing. Mt. Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church joined “The Fishing River Association” in the year of 1951 and he was chosen moderator in 1958 and served until 2004. He had a radio program over the station KWIX Moberly, MO and continued for over thirty two years. Elder Key has written several articles for several Primitive Baptist Papers, including The Banner of Love, and in the year of 1993 he was asked to serve as corresponding editor for, The Gospel Appeal. His body will be laid by the side of his faithful, loving and true wife Sis. Julia to await the sound of the trumpet when the Lord will come with his angels and raise the sleeping dust to meet him in the air and be forever with the Lord. Memorial contributions to the Chariton Primitive Baptist Church or to a charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated. Services honoring and celebrating Russel’s life were at the Cater Funeral Home Chapel. Committal prayers and interment followed in the Huntsville City Cemetery
From the Banner of Love, February 2014
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