Clayton Dean Keys

Clayton Dean Keys, age 79, went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, August 2. Clayton was born October 2, 1937 to Maurice and Elizabeth Keys in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He graduated from College High School in 1955 and attended Oklahoma A &M and Northeastern A & M. He married Dorothy Kay Jones of Tulsa, Oklahoma, on November 22, 1963. He always had a love for horses and knew that he wanted a career in the horse industry. In 1966 Clayton’s career in equine industry began as the ranch manager at Stan-D Ranch in Beggs, Oklahoma. In the early 1970’s he moved to Citation Farm in Jenks, Oklahoma where he stood the accomplished stallions Triple Chick and Mr. Meyers. In 1972 he was hired by the All-American Sales Company, now known as the Ruidoso Sales Company. He was with them until 1997. For most of the 70’s and 80’s his own sales company, Keys Sales Company, put on two sales a year at the Tulsa Fairgrounds and many dispersal and race sales. He also managed sales for many different companies, including Out Front Sales, Green Country Horse Sales, and Purcell Horse Sales. He was also part-owner of the Tulsa Holiday Circuit. Clayton worked with the Heritage Place Sales Company from the time they broke ground in 1978 until 2007 when he retired for health reasons. He was known for his honesty, fairness, and integrity. He was honored with a bronze bust in his image at Heritage Place in 2007 and was inducted into the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame in 2013. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Kay, of the home, and his son Barry and wife Kristi of Preston, Oklahoma. He has grandchildren Abbey Bandeh and husband Jamal of Tulsa, Hallie Smith of Dallas, and Jordan Smith of the home. He is also survived by two sisters, Carol Kellenberger and husband Keith of Plano, Texas and Lois Bass of Bartlesville, one brother Jay Lynn Keys and wife Kimi of Ramona, brother in law Bob Jones and wife Sandy, sister in law Bette Jones, nieces Brenda Snook and husband John, Kati Keys, nephews Ken Kellenberger and wife Natalie, Kelsey Keys, Darton Zink and wife Jamie, Tom Jones, and 9 great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one nephew, Jayson Clayton Keys. Visitation will be held from 6-8 pm on Sunday evening, August 6, 2017 at Stumpff Funeral Home in Bartlesville, and Pastor Stephen Carl will be presiding at services at the First Presbyterian Church, 505 S. Dewey in Bartlesville, at 2:00 pm on Monday, August 7, 2017. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Clayton Dean Keys

October 2, 1937 - August 2, 2017