DOROTHY KEY DONALD KEY

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DOROTHY KEY DONALD KEY Donald and Dorothy Key, originally from Manitoba, have both passed away peacefully in their daughters home after battles with cancer. Don died at 12:36 a.m. on October 4, 2002 after a long fight. Dottie passed away May 8, 2003 at 12:15 a.m. Don was originally from Portage la Prairie, the son of Leonard and Mary E. McKay and Dottie from Virden born to Elmer and Violet Whiting Ferguson. Both were training for the Canadian Olympics before the war cancelled them. Dottie was a contender as the North American Womans Speed Skating Champion in 1939 and Don was to go for track and field events. Don served in the Royal Canadian Army as a captain from 1941 to 1947. Dottie was drafted to the United States as a Rockford Peach for the All American Girls Professional Baseball League after Don turned down the St. Louis Cardinals. Dottie played for the Rockford Peaches from 1945 to 1954. They returned to Winnipeg on January 5, 1949 to be married. Dottie was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY on November 5, 1998 and the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame on June 6, 1998 and also the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on June 4, 1988. Throughout their lives, they stayed active in sports. Survivors include son Douglas Key, daughter Dona (Terry Walker) Ericksen, grandchildren, Kathryn (Tim Carten) Ericksen and Don (Erin Miner) Ericksen, great-grandchildren, Jessamyn, Kathryn and Kyla (son) Ericksen, many nieces and nephews, special friends Bud (Aud) Daniels, Snookie, Marilyn, Brenda, Ken, Laurie and "THE GIRLS". Funeral services for Don were held on Monday, October 7, 2002 and Dottie on Monday, May 12, 2003. Both were held in Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Rd., Rockford, IL. Memorial tributes can be left on line for both Don and Dottie at www.mem.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 14, 2003