Earl Wayne "Red" Lockett

Earl Wayne "Red" Lockett, 89, of Magnolia, Ark. died Friday, May 19, 2017 at the John R. Williamson Hospice House in El Dorado, Ark. following months of bravely fighting Leukemia. He was born April 25, 1928 to the late James "Jim" Newton and Lora (Grimmett) Lockett in Stephens, Ark. Growing up he loved fishing, excelled in sports in softball, baseball, basketball, and football. Earl graduated from Magnolia High School in 1946. After graduating he chose to enlist in the United States Army during the German occupation, where he served in Bad Tolz as a military police officer with the "Big Red One" Division. He played on the Army softball and basketball teams while there. Upon returning home in 1948, he went to work on a drilling rig. In 1953 he met his future wife of 62 years, Janice Davis and was married on June 5, 1954. They moved to Hobbs, N.M. where he became employed with Baker Oil Tools as a service engineer for six and a half years. He transferred to Baker International to work in the Lake Maracaibo and Anaco, Venezuela areas and Columbia for four years. He and Janice returned to the States in 1963, settling in Hope, Ark. and became established in the self-service and automatic car wash business and also raised broiler chickens. He enjoyed bowling, where he rolled a couple of 550 scores; playing golf and bridge. In 1980 he sold the car washes, moved to Magnolia and went to work in the oil fields as a consultant with Ralph Goble at J.W. Operating Co. In 1988 the oil industry slowed down and he moved on to El Dorado to be the brine foreman for Arkansas Chemical in Wesson. In 1996 he retired from Great Lakes Chemical. A year later moved back to Magnolia to the Lake Wood town Homes where he was Vice President and President off and on for seventeen years. He played golf almost every day unless it was too hot, wet, cold, or too many leaves or did not feel like it. He was a wonderful person, good natured, got a long with everyone, kind, helpful, and dearly loved by all. There was little he would not tackle. He was very ingenious and could always find a way to do anything. He was preceded in death by his parents; baby sister, Joyce Dean; older brother, John Edward and wife Zelta; nephew, Johnny Lockett; great-niece, Katy Marie Lockett; and many extended family of Grimmetts, Locketts, Birchfields, and Baileys. Earl is survived by his wife, Janice Lockett of Magnolia; nephew, Ronny Wayne Lockett and wife Nancy of Zachary, La.; brother-in-law, Jerry Wayne Davis and wife Donna Lou of Hobbs, N.M.; nephews, Scot Davis and Neal Davis of North Olmsted, Ohio; niece, Cathy Davis of Kaysville, Utah, Jadi Davis of Hobbs, N.M., Kaci Haskell and husband Bryan of Dallas, Texas; great-niece, Jaci Fay Haskell of Dallas, Texas; great-nephews, Jeremy Lockett of Baton Rouge, La., Alan, Clint, Bret, and Brad Davis of North Olmsted, Ohio, Tye Haskell of Dallas, Texas, and Clay Northcutt of Hobbs, N.M. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation services were provided by Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. in Magnolia, Ark. To sign the online guest book or to share a memory visit www.lewisfuneralhome.biz.