Lois Mary Lockwood

Lois Mary Lockwood, 94, of Lumberton, Texas, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025. Born April 12, 1931, in Sparta, Wisconsin, to Devere and Lillian Button, she was the second oldest of four children. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister whose quiet, calm demeanor and steady presence will be greatly missed.

Lois experienced life in many areas of the country since her father was a civil engineer, working for Foster Wheeler Corp. His job moved him and his family to many cities and communities throughout the country. After one of the relocation moves, Lois met Robert Harold Lockwood, and they became lifelong soulmates. Robert worked for Foster Wheeler also, and Lois’s “semi-nomadic” life continued. She began raising four children, Lawrence, Roberta, Leila, and Myrna.

They lived not only in the United States, but Robert’s job took them to the Middle East and South Africa, places foreign to most Americans. Eventually, she and Robert settled in Beaumont, where she had their fifth child, James (Jimmy).

Once the children became older, she was not a stay-at-home mother. She helped at her children’s school library. When her daughters began attending Lamar, Lois attended as well! She enrolled in some of the classes her daughters were taking, and the girls noticed how much more their mother studied than they did. Grades likely made that obvious.

Since her husband continued to work on projects overseas, Lois managed all household responsibilities while raising five children. In addition, she looked after elderly parents. Lois decided her children should see the US as she did growing up, while visiting Robert at his various job sites. Lois was undaunted by the fact that she would be traveling alone with all her children. So, she loaded up the family car, and the adventure would begin. The Lockwood crew traveled to California, Arkansas, and Missouri, where she and Robert had some lakefront property. “Mom” made everything fun. Her children enjoyed many camping trips to various parks throughout Texas.

Later, Lois worked as a secretary for the Beaumont Classroom Teachers Association. After the children left home, she worked part time at both Mannings Gifts and Cloth World. Her Catholic faith was a priority to her. When she lived in Beaumont, she belonged to St. Pius Catholic Church and later St. Anne Catholic Church. After moving to Lumberton, she was an active member of Infant Jesus Catholic Church.

She is survived by her loving children: Roberta Kellner of Lumberton; Leila Melancon and her husband Rickey of Lumberton; Myrna Harris and her husband Danny of Ft. Worth; James Lockwood and his wife Brandi of Lumberton. She was a proud grandmother to Emily McCullough (Josh) of Lumberton, Tanner Melancon (Jill), Jacob Melancon (Paula), both of Houston, Aaron Harris (Caleigh) of Kyle, Texas, Allison Dull (Jay) of Ft Worth; Meredith Drapela (Brandon) of El Campo, Texas; and Micah Ryan (Sean), of Kountze. She has 16 great grandchildren: Molly, Michael, and Charlie Melancon; Jenna, Abby, Sam, and Layah McCullough; Lane, Levi, and Luke Drapela; Macie and Myla Harris; Cooper and William Dull; Lincoln and Harper Ryan. She is also survived by her brother Clair Button of McKinney and sister in law Bettie Button of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert, and oldest son Lawrence Lockwood.