Judith "Judy" Lockett

Judy Lockett, Prairie Village, Kansas – beloved wife, mother, and grandmother – passed away unexpectedly and went to her heavenly home on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Born on October 13, 1933, in Seymour, Indiana, Judy was the youngest of the five daughters of Ernest Walker and Thelma June (Wheeler) Sargeant. She was 92 years old at her passing, having celebrated her birthday just a few months earlier with her four children.

Judy attended Purdue University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology/Audiology from the College of Health and Human Sciences in 1955. While in school, she was an active member of the Alpha Chi chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. After college, Judy found a teaching job in Tacoma, Washington where – after spending a summer in Hawaii taking additional coursework – she met her future husband, Hoyl, on a blind date (he was returning home after serving with the Army Corps of Engineers in West Germany). Judy then moved to live with her sister, Sally, and her family outside of New York City, where Judy worked at the W. & J. Sloane furniture store downtown.

Judy and Hoyl married in 1958 in Seymour, Indiana, and then moved to Boston so Hoyl could finish his MBA at Harvard Business School. After moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma for Hoyl's career, Judy began work in the Tulsa Public Schools as a speech therapist, focusing on children who stuttered or had speech impediments affecting their pronunciation of words. Judy left her job to raise her family of four children, and returned to paid employment after her youngest child was in pre-school, where she worked as a facilitator and staff aide. When Judy and Hoyl moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia, Judy worked as a teacher's aide and a personal caregiver to a remarkable special needs student. When they moved to the Kansas City area to be near two of their grandchildren, Judy volunteered at the church's food and clothing pantry and played French Horn in the Village Presbyterian brass ensemble and the New Horizons Band, living out her faith and her joy of music.

Judy is survived by her children, Peggy Bruce of Belton, Missouri, Graham Lockett (Kipp Owen) of Birmingham, Michigan, Jack (Colleen) Lockett of Lenexa, Kansas, and Joe (Julie) Lockett of Mason, Ohio; eight grandchildren; her older sisters, Nancy, Sally, and Cynthia; many nieces and nephews; and wonderful neighbors and friends from every place she lived. Judy was pre-deceased by her husband, Hoyl (January 20, 2025) and her sister, Barbara Ann.

Judy was an amazing mother – determined yet compassionate, strong willed and loving, and clear-minded regarding her thoughts and opinions. She loved word play, puns, and jokes; music of all sorts (singing at church and "tooting" her French Horn); sailing on the Cherry Float (and later on the Thelma June); playing tennis; Bridge and other card games; and reading with her book club friends. Judy focused on raising her kids to develop their faith and morals, being open about her own beliefs and their importance in her life. Judy loved swimming and took seriously the job of teaching her kids to swim and dive at the neighborhood pool in Tulsa. Judy was very proud of her children and grandchildren, loved being involved in and witnessing their various endeavors and accomplishments, and cherished holiday family reunions in her home. Judy was viewed as a sweet lady, kind to others, and cognizant of acting and speaking properly. She formed lasting friendships wherever she went throughout her life, and made a difference in the lives of many people. She will be dearly missed.

Judy loved being a member of Village Presbyterian Church, where a Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 18 at 11:00am (Central), including interment of ashes in the church's Memorial Garden, where she will join her husband, Hoyl. The service will be live-streamed and recorded for those unable to attend in person.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Village Presbyterian Church Food Pantry, where Judy was pleased to volunteer for many years.