Inez M (Haynes) Lockman, age 96, passed away on April 21, 2011 at the Hillside Manor in Missoula, MT, our mother’s work was completed on this earth. She had lived in Missoula for the past two years.
Inez was born in Spencer, Nebraska to Roy and Blanche (Miller) Haynes. In May of 1916, the family moved by train to Saco, Montana to homestead. There, she and her older brother Elmer Lyle welcomed brothers Charlie and Howard.
After attending the one-room country school through 8th grade, Inez and her cousin moved into Saco to attend high school where she graduated as the valedictorian of her class at age 16. For the next 10 years, she worked as a telephone operator, nanny and nurses’ assistant to save for college and accomplish her goal of becoming a registered nurse. She attended the Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Great Falls and Montana State College, graduating with high-ranking scores in the Navel Cadet nurse program in 1945-46. As a trained Navy Cadet nurse, she worked at the Navel Hospital in Seattle as a private duty nurse. Her assignments included travel to all parts of the US accompanying patients returning to their homes recovering from WWII injuries. Later she worked at Spokane Deaconess Hospital and several Montana hospitals.
Encouragement from her nursing school classmate led her to a Public Health nursing opportunity in Poplar. She was assured of great pay, benefits, schedule and housing was provided. It was here she met Willie P Lockman who was admitted with a broken leg late one night. They were married on October 14, 1949 and raised four children on the family farm/ranch in Poplar.
Many locals were drawn to Mom’s kitchen. She was a great cook and she never knew who or how many guests Dad would invite for a meal. Coffee and baked goods were served all day long.
In the ’50’s, institutionalization was the only option for children born with Downs Syndrome. When their son Patrick was born, that was not acceptable. Inez and Willie worked with several other Montana families to form the Montana Association for Retarded Children. With the assistance of Senator Stanley Nees, this group met with the legislature to look at other programs for developmentally disabled children so they could stay in their communities. This hard work and dedication resulted in their son Pat becoming an integral part and contributing member of the Sidney community for 21 years of his adult life.
Inez is survived by her daughter, Connie (Phillip) Kulbeck and son, Clem (Jamie) Lockman, both of Missoula; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter Donna, son Patrick, her parents, brothers, and 2 nephews.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 25th, 2011 at 2:00 pm at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Poplar, Montana with interment to take place at Poplar City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Missoula or Montana State University Nursing Program.