Vida Keys

Vida E. Woodruff Keys, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, at Ratliff Care Center.

She was born June 1, 1918, in McCurtain, Okla., daughter of Levi and Maudigee Crabtree Woodruff. She and Clarence Eddie Keys were married Nov. 9, 1940, in Joplin, Mo. He died April 15, 1974.

Keys attended Conservatory of Jazz in Kansas City, Mo. She was a member of Antioch Baptist Church and Eastern Star and a charter member of Zonta Club.

She was a former musician with Ringling Brothers Circus. She was owner of Keys Music store and a professional musician who often played at the Purple Crackle. She raised funds for the Arthritis Foundation through her hat auction for 15 years and volunteered for the Salvation Army.

Survivors include two sons, Eddie R. Keys and wife Colleen of Cape Girardeau, Larry Lucas and wife Gloria of Bakersfield, Calif.; two daughters, ViAnn Hall and husband Tom of Santa Fe, Texas, Monta Sue Richardson and husband Earl of Belton, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, five brothers and two sisters.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ron Watts officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Eddie Keys Music Scholarship Fund in care of Southeast Missouri State University Foundation or the Arthritis Foundation.