Muriel Lokey Obituary

Family-Placed Death Notice

LOKEY, Muriel MURIEL MATTSON LOKEY Family and friends mourn the loss of Muriel Mattson Lokey who passed away peacefully on August 27, 2012. She was ninety years old and had resided in Atlanta for almost 70 years. She had devoted herself to her family, her church and the greater Atlanta community. She was born Muriel Ann Mattson in Tacoma, WA in 1922. As a Presidential Scholar, she attended Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA, graduating in 1943 with a degree in Sociology. While at Wellesley, she not only distinguished herself academically, but was the first freshman ever to row on the varsity crew. She met her husband-to-be, Hamilton Lokey, in Tacoma where he was stationed as a naval officer. They were married in San Diego on July 18, 1944 and remained married for over 50 years until his death on August 15, 1996. Muriel was one of the founding members of H.O.P.E., Inc. a citizen's organization set up in 1958 to work to keep the public schools open in the face of massive resistance laws of the state. H.O.P.E. was disbanded in 1961 after the peaceful beginning of integration of the public schools. During the mid-sixties, Muriel worked with "Partners in Progressî, a group of citizens seeking to facilitate the implementation of the Civil Rights Act. In 1967 she worked as a volunteer at Emmaus House, a community established in the inner city by the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. For twenty years she served as the coordinator of the Poverty Rights Office, an advocacy office for poor people. It was renamed the Muriel Lokey Center in 2008 in her honor. Muriel enjoyed adventure travel with her husband for many years. Together they climbed Mount Fuji and Mt. Kilimanjaro. She climbed Mt. Rainier for her 50th birthday. They walked the Inca Road to Machu Picchu, went trekking in the Himalaya and the Andes and rafted the Chattooga and Colorado rivers. She is survived by two daughters, Ann Montgomery Lokey of Mercer Island, WA and Rebecca Hazel Lokey of Decatur, GA; and three sons, Dr. Hamilton Lokey, Jr. of Wheat Ridge, CO; William Mattson Lokey of Tacoma, WA; and Fletcher Lokey of Sanbornton, NH. She enjoyed a warm relationship with her three daughters-in-law, Judy Lehman Lokey, Andrea Blix Lokey and Susan Dyment and her son-in-law Mark Clausen. She had thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. The family thanks her loving caregivers--Susan Mwayera, Lanelle and Virginia Ward, Grace and Shami Jele, and Malen Nicol. A memorial service will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church at 435 Peachtree Street, NE Atlanta, GA on September 28, 2012 at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Muriel Lokey Center. SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society, 595 Franklin Road, Marietta, GA 30067. 770-420-5557. www.southcare.us

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Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sep. 2, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Muriel Lokey

7 Entries

Gregg Smith

August 27, 2024

I remember Muriel as a wonderful organizer who was a powerful voice for the poor who had this ability to energize the Emmaus House community to advocate for themselves and their community.

Gregg Smith

June 16, 2013

Muriel was a generous soul who always had energy to spare. During the days when the Emmaus House collected surplus food for the familes in Peoplestown, Muriel made sure everything ran smoothly.She and Ham were quite a team!

David Morath

September 6, 2012

I was a young staff member at Emmaus House in the early 1970s. At that time, Muriel was managing the delivery of surplus food to poor families. She was also laying the groundwork for the Poverty Rights Office, which was a fledgling operation. She did it all with kindness, compassion, humor, and great organization. Forty years later, I used her recordkeeping system to keep track of things at a local food bank. I was blessed to be able to tell her what our friendship meant at the Emmaus House reunion. I mourn her passing and celebrate her great accomplishments. She had a positive impact on many lives. Muriel is one of God's angels.

John Andrews

September 5, 2012

A dedicated lady in so many areas of her life - family - church - Rights of the poor and disenfranchised. A lover of souls. A shining light for so many.

Ken Medernach

September 3, 2012

A wonderful lady,we will all miss Henry.

Charlotta Norby

September 2, 2012

When I knew Muriel, she ran the Poverty Rights Office, with a pair of velvet gloves. Keeping the office staffed by volunteers, keeping the volunteers trained, keeping our information up-to-date, and keeping the files organized. Each in and of itself a near impossible task. She did it all with a kindness, love, humility, and sweetness, that belied the underlying firmness of purpose and intent, and endeared her to one and all. She enabled the office to assist hundreds if not thousands of people in need, something which would never have happened without her leadership.
Despite - or perhaps because? - of our considerable age differences, I'm the same age as Muriel's youngest daughter, Rebecca, she was also a very dear friend to me. We spent much time discussing the difficulties of parent/child relationships when we first met, which was when I was just barely 20 and had only recently left Denmark and my family there.
I send my deepest condolences to Muriel's family, as I mourn her passing and celebrate her life.

James Smith

September 2, 2012

Like so many, I will remember Muriel as a tireless crusader for civil rights and an advocate for the poor. Most of all I remember her constant, loving friendship to me and my family especially when it was most needed. We love you, Muriel, and will always keep you in our hearts.

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