Alice Joy Locke (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Alice Joy Locke entered her home in Heaven Wednesday morning, May 9, 2012. She had been residing at Parkview Healthcare Facility in Bolivar while recovering from a broken hip and heart failure.
The daughter of Walter F. and Veva (Porter) Berry, she was born on April 7, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan. After spending most of her childhood in Detroit and Cleveland, Ohio, the family returned to Polk County Missouri and settled on a farm within walking distance of Halfway. Alice loved animals and through the years took pleasure in caring for her pets.
Alice had a zest for life and made friends easily wherever she was. She genuinely cared about people, delighting in the connections she made. Her childhood in Halfway was carefree and she enjoyed her school years where she made life-long friends. In recent years, she spent many hours reminiscing with her friends and sharing stories with family. She has been the “go-to” person for many questions and is affectionately known to her family as the “Historian of Halfway.” Her keen memory has been a blessing.
Alice was an avid reader and loved gospel music. She was saved as a young girl, was a member of Halfway Baptist Church for many years and most recently was a member of Bible Baptist Church, Buffalo, Mo. Alice helped with church dinners, vacation bible school, and the nursery as long as her health permitted.
Alice and William H. (Bill) Locke were married in 1947 and are the parents of four children, Jim, John, Jane, and Jerry. The family lived in California and Colorado before making a permanent home on a dairy farm north of Halfway, Mo. Alice was a homemaker, school and senior center volunteer, school bus driver, Teters’ Floral Products employee, and over-the-road truck driver. She loved to travel and had been to 48 of the 50 states. Some trips were long hauls and others were day trips just to get a coke. Alice was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, son John and son-in-law Mike McKinney. She is survived by her children Jim and Janet Locke of Bois D’ Arc, Jane McKinney of Eldorado Springs, Jerry and Terri Locke of Halfway, and Debra and Carl Coppage of Bolivar, 11 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law Veda Locke of Springfield, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends. She was affectionately known as “Grandma Toots” by her great-grandchildren.
What’s your fondest memory of Alice?
What’s a lesson you learned from Alice?
Share a story where Alice's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Alice you’ll never forget.
How did Alice make you smile?