Joan Lockwood
We are sad to announce our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend passed away September 2, 2023, at the age of 88.
Born Joan Lamie in Eaton County November 30, 1934, she was the second oldest of six siblings. Growing up on a farm in Vermontville, MI, she developed a love for animals – including her favorite cow Chester – and always had a penchant for hard work. She helped raise her siblings, including her twin sisters who were 10 years younger than she.
At age 18, she met and married the love of her life, Donald C. Lockwood. Two years later they began to raise their family. These were the best years of her life!
Mom was a huge supporter of her husband Don as he made his school principal career in Eaton Rapids. Til the end, she would light up when anyone shared memories and stories of his many wonderful ways with the school children and their families.
Their tremendous love and commitment to each other set a great example of what love could be. People still comment on how they were always holding hands when they were out and about.
This great love for each other helped them through the tremendous loss of their son Jim in 1977.
Joan loved her family and was thrilled when her children started having children of their own, and then when her grandchildren started having children! She thoroughly enjoyed hosting the many special holidays, including Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. When their children were quite young, she and Don built a cottage on Horsehead Lake and treasured their many moments there, including teaching the kids how to water ski and fish.
She was devastated by the loss of her husband in 2002, but continued to be a trooper and take care of their lifetime family home, almost to the very end.
A true Spartan fan, she was pleased to learn her football team won their recent season opener.
She was a lifetime member of the Eastern Star, Brookfield Chapter #352.
She wanted all her caregivers to know how much she loved and appreciated their help and support with her ailments these last few years, including Khristina Coker, Amanda, and Cheryl at the Eaton Rapids Medical Clinic, and Sam, Pamela, and the gang at Rottenbucher Pharmacy. She also wanted to acknowledge her hairdresser Katie at It’s Your Hair, who became like a third daughter to her.
She is survived by her daughters Cathie (Larry Webb) and Kristi (Greg Hampton), her grandchildren Shannon Flattley (Carman), Jeremy Webb (Taylor), and Julie Bolitho (Antonio Celotto), her great-grandchildren Nathan Bence, Savannah Flattley, Chase Wells, Deacon Wells, Hazel Webb, and Giada Celotto, her sister Charlene Young, and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids on Sunday, September 10, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and the service will take place Monday, September 11 at 11:00 a.m., followed by burial at Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids.
If you wish to make a memorial contribution towards a Donald C. Lockwood Elementary School Sign Lighting Fund, please make checks payable to Cathie Webb. To share memories or leave online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.