Roy Jean Lockhart
Roy Jean Lockhart, 94, of Breckenridge, passed away on April 9, 2024. Her funeral service at First Presbyterian Church will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024 beginning at 1 p.m., officiated by Linda Leveridge.
Roy Jean Ritchey was born on August 23, 1929, in Breckenridge, Texas, to Christine Cravey Ritchey and Roy Aurthur (Doc) Ritchey. Her father was a rancher, and she grew up on the family ranch northwest of Breckenridge, which is currently covered by Hubbard Creek Lake. Roy Jean spent her childhood on the ranch, and spent many days riding horses with her cousin, Bob Green and her collie dog, Dixie exploring the banks of the Hubbard and Sandy Creek.
Roy Jean and Bob were fast friends and collected many arrowheads and Indian artifacts found at Indian campsites on the ranches. Their collections went into Bob Green’s arrowhead collection. She graduated from Breckenridge high school in 1947, and then attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, where she received her degree in Education.
After graduation, Roy Jean worked as an Elementary school teacher in San Angelo, Texas, where she was introduced on a blind date to a young Air Force pilot, John Lockhart who was stationed at Lackland Air Force base. John and Roy Jean married on September the 2nd 1953. John was sent to Tule, Greenland, shortly after their marriage. Upon his return, Roy Jean and John became a typical military family, who for several years, lived in San Marcos and Houston before John’s honorable discharge from the Air Force.
They also lived in Mineral Wells where John was a helicopter flight instructor at Fort Wolters in the late 1950s. In 1961, when Hubbard Creek Lake was constructed, the family returned to Breckenridge to assist with the relocation of the family ranch from the banks of the Hubbard Creek to east of Breckenridge, near the Necessity Community.
Roy Jean was a stay-at-home mom until her children graduated high school and went off to college. She then worked at the local ASCS office and as a substitute teacher. When grandchildren began to arrive, she was perplexed at the thought of them calling her “Granny” because it sounded old. She determined that a name changed to Mama Jean would solve that issue. John went along with the program and became Papa John.
She was very active in community civic affairs and served many years on the Library board, the Swenson Museum board and with the Friends of Historic Breckenridge. She loved the Presbyterian Church and served many functions in the church.
Roy Jean was always there when someone was in need and prepared many meals, pies, cakes, and loaves of monkey bread to distribute to church members and friends. She knew everyone’s favorite meal or dessert made a special point to prepare it for them when they came to visit. Her bridge buddies and “Movie Day” friends were the highlight of her week. Family members learned quickly not to schedule anything that interfered with “Bridge Day” or “Movie Day.”
Her BHS class of 47 was a very close group and they met twice a year for many years. Mama Jean’s grandchildren were the highlight of her life, and she was always willing to tell her friends how proud she was of all of them.
Roy Jean was preceded in death by her parents and John, her husband of 68 years!
She is survived by son Donnie, of Breckenridge; daughter Susan Kohler and her husband, Terry, of Cheney, Kansas; grandchildren Bret (Betsy) and Cody Lockhart, Tyler (Kate) and Brady (Kim) Kohler; and six great-grandchildren, Eli, Joshua, Luke, and Elizabeth Lockhart; and Vincent and Anna Kohler.
Mama Jean’s later years were a struggle for her. Special thank you goes to Margie Salas and Angela Cortez who helped make her days special. Also, a big thanks to all the angels that stayed at home with her and Papa John, Margie Salas, Angela Cortez, Sandra Fernandez, Valerie Hinton, Gwen Pardue and Jeorgann Cook. In addition, a thank you goes to Skye Hayworth and Jenna White and all the Solaris Hospice personnel, that were there to care for her and guide us.
Memorials can be made to Friends of Historic Breckenridge or the Swenson Memorial Museum, and may be left at Melton Kitchens Funeral Home. Condolences can be made at meltonkitchens.com.
