James Key's Obituary
On Oct 14, 2025, Heaven surely had a glorious band of Hammered Dulcimers playing to welcome Jim into their grace.
Jim was born in Hanging Limb, Tennessee. He spent some of his young adult years in Texas before settling in Battle Creek, Michigan. He was part of the Air National Guard. He worked with data systems and could build a computer from the ground up.
Jim loved to be out in the woods, hunting, fishing and just exploring and finding inner peace. He had a huge interest in guns and especially gun safety. He never met an airplane that he didn't like or that he couldn't tell you every detail about from memory.
Anyone that knew Jim knew his passion for playing the Hammered Dulcimer. He was truly one with the world when he was tapping out that beautiful music. He was self-taught and went on to teach others, he also built Hammered Dulcimers. He shared that love with so many, locals knew him from playing at fairs and local events. Of course, they also knew him because he would talk to anyone who would slow down long enough to listen, he had the magical ability to make anyone laugh and want to sit for hours to listen to his stories.
He is survived by 2 children, Brent (Elizabeth) Key of Florida and Kimberly Key of Michigan, 6 grandchildren and several great grandchildren. He was preceded in his Heavenly afterlife by a special friend, Anne.
"The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life." -Rabindranath Tagore
Shoreline Memorial Services of Muskegon Ph. 231-722-5050
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