Josephine Frances (Davis) “Josie” Lockard
Alton | Friday, March 12 2021 |
Josephine Frances (Davis) “Josie” Lockard, 98, entered into Heaven’s gates at 1:45am Friday, March 12, 2021.
She was born June 28, 1922, in Jersey County IL, the fourth of nine children to Thomas Harrison “Harry” and Caroline Frances “Carrie” (Federle) Davis.
She met the love of her life, Joseph Thomas “Joe” Lockard, and they married March 1, 1942, in St. Charles MO, and had two sons Gary Thomas Lockard and Joseph Dale Lockard. Together, they created a heritage of love and faith for their family and loved ones.
Joe and Josie were loved by everyone who knew them. They attended the Alton Gospel Tabernacle (Spring Street Assembly of God Church) in Alton all of their married life and were active in the Alton Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship. They shared the gospel of Jesus - helping, loving and praying for everyone who crossed their path.
Josie worked hard all her life. She grew up on a farm, doing chores, cooking, cleaning, and caring for her siblings. In her early days, she worked at Principia College in Elsah and Owens-Illinois Glass in Alton. She ran Lockard and Ward Grocery Store and Central Avenue Hardware Store in Alton while the boys were growing up, and two dry cleaning businesses in later years. She and Joe had rental properties in Alton, and it was their ministry to guide and love their tenants like family.
Her beloved Joe went to heaven August 3, 1979, and sweet Josie carried on living a life of servanthood for the Lord until He called her home.
She leaves behind her two sons and a daughter-in-law, Gary Thomas and Mary Lou (Jones) Lockard of Godfrey IL, and Joseph Dale Lockard of Alton; three grandchildren and their spouses, Cynthia Lynn “Cindy” (Lockard) and Jeff Hall, and Rebecca Sue “Becky” (Lockard) and Randy Burns, all of Grafton IL, and Julie Ann (Lockard) Steinhauer Nickerson and Larry Nickerson of Godfrey; three great-grandchildren, Travis Michael (Bradi) Blair of O’Fallon, MO, and Ethan Jeffri Steinhauer and Emma Grace Steinhauer, both of Godfrey; one brother and two sisters-in-law, Herbert and Helen Davis and Mrs. Eugene (Mary) Davis, all of Dow IL; and many nieces and nephews, friends and family who loved her, including her caregivers Everett Dow and Karen Dix.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her dear husband Joe; and her siblings and their spouses, Gladys (Davis) and Harry McCoy, Laverne “Buck” and Bea Davis, Lora Elizabeth “Marthie” (Davis) and Donald Stafford, Verna (Davis) and Tom Means, Paul E. (Mildred) Davis, Eugene “Gene” Davis, and Bette (Davis) and George Likes.
Josie enjoyed traveling the world, shopping, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. She liked to laugh, dance and have fun. She was known for dressing to the nines with elegant and beautiful clothing, hair, jewelry, and nails. She could wear leopard print and 3” heels with grace and class. But for all her outward adornment, her truest quality was her sweet, sweet heart and love for the Lord. She was the definition of a “Wife of Noble Character” in Proverbs 31:10-31. “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
Visitation and services will be private at the Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Godfrey. Burial will be in Valhalla Memorial Park Godfrey.
To accommodate family and friends impacted by travel restrictions and occupancy constraints, the funeral service will be available via live stream on our Facebook page beginning 12 PM CST on Monday, March 15, 2021. Please follow this link to join the live viewing, or to watch later: https://www.facebook.com/eliaskallalandschaaf
Memorials may be given to OSF Hospice Care Alton.
Online condolences may be posted to www.eliaskallalschaaf.com.
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
