Dr. Thomas Clinton Key, Junior

Dr. Thomas Clinton Key, Junior, 73, of Orangeburg, South Carolina, died on Monday, October 28, 2024. Born on July 19, 1951, in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, he was a son of the late Thomas Clinton Key and Betty Irene Waddell Key. After graduating from the University of South Carolina in 1973, Tom attended the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical University of South Carolina. Tom went on to complete a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of California at San Diego. He practiced medicine for over 45 years, founding his first private practice Grossmont Perinatal Associates in La Mesa, California, in 1989. He was later a physician partner at Great Falls OB/GYN Associates in Great Falls, Montana. He also served as medical director of Women’s Health and medical director of Mercy Flight for Montana Deaconess Medical Center (now BenefisHealth System) in Great Falls. In recent years, he returned to South Carolina to join Orangeburg Regional Medical Center (now MUSC Health-Orangeburg) Obstetrics and Gynecology practice. At the time of his death, Tom was working as a locum tenens physician with Weatherby Healthcare, traveling for short assignments to provide services to underserved populations. While his long career and professional endeavors brought many accolades and recognition through the years, Tom would want to be remembered as his patients and their families will remember him–a dedicated, passionate, and compassionate physician. He was a talented surgeon and an exacting practitioner. He was known for his attentive, detailed, and generous bedside manner. His life was a life spent bettering the lives of others, focused on improving outcomes for mothers, their babies, and their families. Tom founded Montana Aerie Sheep Ranch in Great Falls, Montana, in 1994. For almost 20 years, he was a self taught rancher. He became active in the sheep and wool industry, integrating his early medical research involving sheep with a love of being outdoors and hard work. This dedication to the field brought Tom to national prominence in the industry as he produced National Champion Rams and Ewes in three breeds, Columbia, American Border Leicester, and Natural Colored Border Leicester. Never one to be still or idle, Tom explored an array of hobbies, leaving basements and workshops stocked with equipment for backpacking, photography, cycle touring, running, skiing, blacksmithing, auto restoration, embroidery, and many other brief passions. Throughout his life, Tom had an enduring love of gardening, reading, and music. He revered good food and enjoyed dining out, cooking, and baking, especially sourdough bread. He took great pleasure in sharing this love of food with others. Survivors include his wife, Mary McCarthy Key; children, Lauren Key Burns (Alexander James) of Sewickley, PA, Clinton Connor Key (Kelly Laine Sheeran) of Keswick, VA; grandchildren, Margaret Barclay Burns, Thomas Charles Burns, Anna Patricia Sheeran Key, James Summers Burns, and Lillian Grace Sheeran Key; brothers, Daniel Allen Key (Boyne Wyse), Larry Nathaniel Key (Johnnie Johnson), Timothy Lane Key (Wanda Dillard), and Jamie Lyn Key (Barbara Zimmit). In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Anne Moss Key and his sister, Connie Janice Key. A celebration of life for Tom will be held at 2 o’clock, Saturday, November 9th at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, SC. The family will receive guests prior to the service beginning at 1 o'clock. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to The Benefis Foundation (https://link.edgepilot.com/s/d2d45457/Qom6X-7i-Uyzj1widavyWg?u=https://www.benefis.org/benefis-foundation/) or Harvest Hope (https://link.edgepilot.com/s/e68912ba/y3bOcXnFsUyzIt5UCB0B-Q?u=https://www.harvesthope.org/).

Tributes

Dr. Thomas Clinton Key, Junior

July 19, 1951 - October 28, 2024