Evelyn Lock
Evelyn Gene Mather Lock was born on a farm south of Champion, Nebraska, to Charles LeRoy and Selma Lydia Bauerle Mather on March 29, 1932, during a dirt storm while her dad held the lamp and whistled. She died Feb. 24, 2021.
She had two younger siblings: a sister, Yvonne, and a brother, Loys. As a child, she spent many days with her grandmother Anna Bauerle, who was a godly example to her. When she was still in grade school, the family moved from Champion Valley to the Mather homestead north of Imperial, Nebraska.
She grew up “on a church bench from infancy” as the Lord was a big part of the Mather family life. She was immersed into Christ at the Christian Church in Holyoke in October 1965 and baptized in the Holy Spirit in the fall of 1981. There she taught children’s Sunday school and was involved in other activities at church.
Evelyn was a member of the Chase County High School graduating class of 1950. She was married to R. Dwain Lock on Jan. 21, 1952. They had four children: Lester, Ronald, Kevin and Sandra. They farmed south of Lamar, Nebraska, for several years. In 1968, the Locks bought a house in Holyoke and split their time between Holyoke, with school and sports, and the farm, where the whole family worked during the summers. Her life would fill a book.
After moving to Holyoke full time in 1981, she worked for Roskop Accounting for seven years and later as the night clerk at Golden Plains Motel. She was a sociable person and especially enjoyed visiting with the many people she met there.
Among Evelyn’s talents was playing the harp. As a youth, her parents regularly took her to Denver for private lessons. She was the featured artist once at a concert in Imperial. Her beautiful harp playing came to an unfortunate end following an accident which left her physically limited, but her earthly playing was merely a rehearsal for joining the heavenly musicians.
Evelyn lived a deeply spiritual life and was continuously thankful for the Lord’s many blessings to her and her family. She faced many difficult hardships throughout her life yet was always cheerful and never offered a complaint. She loved life and her family and her many God-fearing friends who were very special to her.
One place where Evelyn’s Christian faith was especially evident was when she worked at Golden Plains Motel. She knew that every person who came through the door was created and redeemed by the God she worshipped and therefore was deserving of her respect regardless of who they were, their station in life or from whence they came. You will not find her name on some huge plaque or public monument, but you will find her influence in the minds and hearts of those whose lives she touched.
Her four children, 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren all were the joy of her life. Each one was special to her in their own personality and interests.
Evelyn was predeceased by her son, Lester Lock; daughter, Sandra Bowers; son-in-law, Wes Bowers; two grandsons, Zane Lock and Zachariah Bowers; parents; sister, Yvonne Norman; and nephew, Hardy Norman.
Her surviving family includes daughter-in-love, Laurie Lock; son and daughter-in-love, Ron and Cindy Lock; son and daughter-in-love, Kevin and Michelle Lock; grandchildren, Lisa Davison, Marla and Michael Black, Adam and Jamee Lock, Jade and Luke Goldenstein, Gentry Lock, Alexa and Carlos Oliva, Jared Lock, Spencer and Bridget Lock, and Holly and Steve Young; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-love, Loys and Sonja Mather; niece, Jan and Tom Peters; nephews, Michael Norman, Charles and Kelley Mather, and David Mather; and five great-nieces, one great-nephew, two great-great-nieces and one great-great-nephew.
A graveside service was held March 1, and burial followed at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Imperial. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be sent to A Caring Pregnancy Resource Center, 214 Cameron St., Brush, CO 80723.
Baucke Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.