Ann Key Murphree Livingston, a longtime resident of Montgomery, died in her home at the age of 92, on Nov. 26, 2008, after a long illness. Born in Troy on Oct. 8, 1916, she was the daughter of John Key Murphree and Amy Hubbard. After graduating from high school, she attended Troy State Teachers College (Troy University) and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1937 with a degree in Elementary Education. Ann Key was a popular co-ed at the University where she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She was a talented musician and sang with Dean Helle and his Alabama Cavaliers Orchestra during homecoming games, dances, and community events. She was also a frequent vocalist and pianist on local radio stations in Tuscaloosa.
Ann Key and Willard Wise Livingston were married on August 29, 1940, at the First Baptist Church in Troy. Ann Key later taught school in Tuscaloosa while Willard began his military service as an ROTC instructor at the University of Alabama. They spent the war years in Galveston, Texas, at Fort Crockett where Willard was a U.S. Army coast artillery officer. In 1946 they resided in Boston while Willard completed postgraduate work at Harvard Law School. They made their home in Montgomery in 1948.
Ann Key was active in the First Baptist Church and numerous school PTA organizations. She was a Pink Lady at Baptist Hospital and participated in many volunteer community projects. A wonderful wife and loving mother, she was a strict disciplinarian with a sense of humor that stayed with her to the end. She is survived by her children: Willard Wise Livingston, Jr. (Margaret) of Mobile; Edwin Key Livingston (Louise) of Montgomery; Harold Hubbard Livingston (Carolyn) of Tupelo, Miss.; Ann Murphree Livingston Ray of Montgomery, and Amy Marie Livingston Goff (Randy) of Birmingham. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Phillip Inge Livingston (Ashley) of Greenville, S.C.; Jean Marie Livingston and Margaret (Meg) Erwin Livingston of Mobile; 1st Lt. (USAF) Robert Cooper Livingston of Corpus Christi, Texas; Elizabeth Murphree Livingston of Franklin, TN; Amy Marie Ray of Montgomery; and William (Billy) Livingston Goff of Birmingham; and one great-granddaughter, Stella Burks Livingston of Greenville, S.C.
Services will be held at Leak-Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Montgomery, on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, beginning with visitation at 12 noon and chapel service at 1 p.m. Burial will follow in Troy. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Murphree Cemetery Memorial Fund, 1627 County Road 1149, Troy, Ala., 36079, or to the charity of your choice.