Los Flemings

Grandaddy Frank's mother, Helen, passed earlier this week. Fortunately, he and Donna were able to travel up late last week when she was hospitalized to be with her and the family.

She was a remarkable lady. I remember when I first met Frank hearing stories about his parents, who were approaching 80 at the time, going out cross-country skiing.

Here she shares a laugh with Fred, her husband of 60+ years, at his 90th birthday celebration in July 2006. The following is a her obituary from the Door County Advocate.

Helen Day Lockwood passed away at home in Sturgeon Bay, Monday, Dec. 3, 2007, after a brief illness.

Helen was born in Evanston, Ill., Sept. 5, 1914.

In Evanston, she graduated from Roycemore School, Northwestern University (Bachelor of Arts in statistics in 1936) and Garrrett Theological Seminary (Master of Arts in Christian education in 1965). While at Northwestern, she was a varsity athlete in field hockey and named “woman athlete of the year” in 1936.

Her mother was Mary Thayer and her father was Stephen Day, U.S. representative to Congress from Illinois. Her grandfathers were Judge A.A. Thayer, Ohio, and William R. Day, Ohio, who served as U.S. secretary of state under President William McKinley and also was a U.S. Supreme Court justice.

In 1942 Helen married Fred Stark Lockwood, an attorney who has been a member of the Chicago Patent Law Association since 1939 and practiced intellectual property law for over 60 years, retiring in 2000.

Helen was active in community affairs, serving as a Girl Scout leader and Sunday school teacher when her children were growing up. She served as a director of Christian education at the Community Church, Barrington, Ill. Always interested in volunteer work, she spent most of her last years working for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She helped found NAMI National in 1979, worked for NAMI of Greater Chicago and, in 1992, was a co-founder, past president, and active member of NAMI Door County. Helen was a member of Hope United Church of Christ, retired member of the Door County American Association of University Women and the Memorial Society of Wisconsin.

She is survived by her husband, Fred; one sister, Stephanie (Samuel) White; four children, Frank Lockwood (Donna Ross), Margaret Lockwood (Allin Walker), Catherine Whaley (Donald, deceased), Susan (David) Morgan; 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service is planned. Instead of flowers please send memorial gifts to NAMI Door County/JAK’S Place, PO Box 273, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235.

Huehns Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Sign online guest book and offer condolences at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.