Laura Jane Locke went to Heaven to be with God and to be reunited with her beloved husband, Lincoln, on August 28, 2023. She was 93 years old. Laura was born on September 24, 1929, in Sharon to Thomas Jefferson Ellis and Jennie Marie Nevin Ellis. She attended Hickory High School, Hermitage and was a member of Clark Trinity United Methodist Church. On August 5, 1946, she married William Lincoln Locke and they spent a very happy life together raising their family and traveling in their retirement years.
Laura was an accomplished cook and enjoyed browsing through cookbooks in search of new recipes to try. At Christmastime she would spend days baking cookies, nut rolls, and pies in addition to making candies, and other delectable treats. She also enjoyed embroidery, needlepoint, crossword puzzles, and was an avid reader.
Laura was very active in the Rebekah Lodge. She joined Sharpsville Rebekah Lodge #110 on January 27, 1955 where she became a Past Noble Grand in 1978, and then received her Rebekah Assembly degree in 1979. For several years, Laura served as District Deputy President of the Rebekah Lodge. In 2002, she was elected by the Rebekah Assembly to the Office of Assembly Secretary and worked for the lodge in that capacity until her retirement. She held numerous other elected and appointed offices with the Rebekah Assembly of Pennsylvania. In June of 1993, Laura was awarded the Decoration of Chivalry, the highest award given to a Rebekah. She also was a recipient of the Medallion Award from the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies.
Laura is survived by two daughters, Linda A. and her husband Larry D. Kerins, Hermitage; and Lucinda J. and her husband Charles R. Wallace, Sharpsville; two sons, William J. Locke and his wife Carole, Greenville; and David E. Locke and his wife Tracy, Hermitage; five grandsons, Bruce D. Kerins, Jason D. Kerins, Jeffrey A. Locke, Jon J. Locke and Nicholas D. Locke; four granddaughters, Jenny M. Miller, Heather R. Wallace, Stephanie M. Carlson, and Madeline G. Locke; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Lincoln Locke; father, Thomas Jefferson Ellis; mother, Jennie Marie Nevin Ellis; brother, David G. Ellis; sisters, Anna Mary Giffin, Marjorie Mudrey, Wilda Monteson, and Barbara Ellis.
Laura will be greatly missed by her family. So, to Mom, our singer of lullabies, our reader of bedtime stories, and our giver of hugs that made it feel like all was right with the world; we love you. Say hello to Pop for us.
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