James R. Locke

James “Jim” Robert Locke, the husband of Kathy Jeannie (Merriott) Locke, father of Sarah Elizabeth Locke, and proud owner of two dachshunds, Lila Jane and Minnie Faye, was born June 4, 1952, at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. He was received by the hands of God, early Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, in the home, at the age of 58.

Jim graduated in 1970 from U.S. Grant High School Midwest City, where he excelled in music. This stayed his number one passion the rest of his life. He met Kathy through a mutual friend and the two were married on March 21, 1983. Their daughter, Sarah, was born three years later on July 30, 1986.

Jim was a private person who loved a good hamburger, French fries, and a variety of Little Debbie snacks! He was a fan of science fiction shows, as well as The Simpsons. He played his red Epiphone electric guitar almost nightly. Jim was an avid writer, proving this in the detailed journal he left Sarah, of the first four years of her life. A reader as well, he loved his “King James Holy Bible,” with his favorite book being Psalms.

Loving husband, father, brother, and uncle, Jim “Bobo” Locke is survived by Kathy, Sarah, Lila, and Minnie of the home; and daughter, Jen Wells of Vermont; three sisters: Linda Baldridge, Laura Hurt, Felice “Lisa” Reid, and husband, Mike; and numerous nieces and nephews, all of Cleveland, Ohio, in-laws, Vernon Stellman and wife, Bonnie, of Claremore; sister-in-law, Shirley and husband, Harry Harper, of Corum; brother-in-law, Col. Ron Merriott and wife, Laura, of Erie, Pa; sister-in-law, Jody Guilliams and husband, Jim; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, all of Claremore.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Harold and Sylvia Covey; parents, Hubert Lee and Doloris Locke, and brother, Michael Locke.

A private family service will be held Friday, Aug. 20.