A celebration of the life of Kathy J. Locke will be 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20, 2013 at First Christian Church, Claremore. Visitation will be at Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Funeral Home, Thursday from 1-8 p.m., with family greeting visitors from 6-8 p.m.
Kathy was received by the hands of God on Sunday morning, September 15, 2013. She was 64 years young.
Kathy Jeannie (Merriott) Locke, wife of James Robert Locke, and mother of Sarah Elizabeth (Locke) Johnston, was born August 17, 1949 at Claremore Franklin Hospital.
The daughter of Charles Haskell Merriott and Delilah Bonnie Belle (Armstrong) Merriott, she was a proud Chelsea Dragon, graduating high school in 1967. She furthered her education, receiving an Associate’s from Northeastern Okla. A&M in 1969, and a Bachelor’s from Northeastern State College in 1972.
Shortly after graduating, she began work at the Department of Human Services as a clerk typist. She was the first Rogers County employee to get an electric typewriter. She retired from DHS in 2001.
Kathy and husband Jim met through mutual friends and married on March 21, 1983. They were blessed with daughter, Sarah, 3 years later.
“Kacky” as she was known to many, had a kind, strong, and humble spirit. Although she faced many trials and tribulations in her 64 years, she did so with a smile on her face. She had Faith unlike many had ever seen. She always said, “God will only give me what I can handle.”
To say she loved flamingos, is an understatement! The Food Network was her favorite, often imitating the dishes she had seen. Very much a people person, she enjoyed playing canasta with friends. She was proud owner of two dachshunds, Lila and Cambi.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Jason Johnston of Claremore; and siblings Shirley Harper and husband Harry of Hastings, Col. Merriott and wife Laura of Erie, Pa., Jody Guilliams and husband Jim of Claremore. She was “Aunt Kacky” to many nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Bonnie, and husband Jim.