Obit – Mr. Baxter (Baxie) Key III
Mr. Baxter (Baxie) Key III died peacefully Sunday morning July 6, 2025 at the Smith County Health and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage at the age of 61 where had made his home since May 21, 2023. He was pronounced deceased at 4:45 a.m. by Gentiva Hospice of Livingston. Mr. Key was suffering from chronic Parkinsons disease.
Mr. Key was at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home and was cremated at the Cumberland Family Services in Algood.
There was a gathering of family and friends at the Carthage United Methodist Church Christian Life Center on Saturday afternoon July 12th from noon until 4 p.m. There was a private graveside service and Mr. Key was buried in the Key family plot in section three of the Ridgewood Cemetery.
He was born Nathaniel Baxter Key III in Carthage on March 1, 1964 and was the son of the late Nathaniel Baxter Key Jr. who died January 18, 2012 at the age of 77 and Mina Armstrong Key Henderson who died March 22, 2003 at the age of 87.
Mr. Key was a member of the 1982 graduating class at Smith County High School and was in the Spanish Club his freshman year, the Library Club his sophomore and junior year and played “Owl” baseball and was a member of the yearbook staff, both his senior year.
He began his college curriculum at Cumberland University in Lebanon and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville.
While a student at Cumberland he served as student manager of the Phoenix baseball team.
Mr. Key was a former employee of the D. T. McCall and Sons n Carthage and retired in sales from the Gasser Company in Nashville.
He was active in the Nashville Gaming Community.
Mr. Key was a multi-denominational Christian and Jew, having attended both the Carthage First Baptist Church, the Carthage United Methodist Church and at the time of his death was practicing Judaism.
Surviving is his sister, Valerie (Val) Key Cowan of Lavergne; niece, Mary Catherine Cowan Pernell and husband Brandon of Atlanta, Georgia; fur baby nephew, Tobie Pernell and many beloved cats.
SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
