In Memory
Margaret Lockhart of Federal Heights, Colo., passed away on June 9, 2023, following a heart attack and stroke. She was 85 and had lived a full life with much love and a great deal of happiness. Her children were by her side during her final days and held her hands while she passed. Margaret was born in 1938, in Indianola, Neb., to Frank and Faye Schutte (Powers). She had a sister Eileen, who was 12 years older, and another sister, Mary Cecilia, who died as a toddler before Margaret was born. As a descendant of the Schroer-Schutte and Powers families of Indianola, she had relatives all over the heartland. She grew up in McCook, Neb., and attended St. Patrick’s parochial school. Margie was a good student and a gregarious girl who liked to write and draw. Above all, she loved to play sports, and she excelled at them. After graduation from high school, she entered St. Catharine’s convent in Kentucky, but left after two years, before taking vows. While there, she earned an associate degree in teaching from the convent’s college. Margaret’s first teaching job was in Chappell, Neb., at the country school. She met her first husband, Rodney Lockhart, in Chappell. Together they had three children, Glenda, Damon, and Trish, whom Margaret stayed home to care for while Rod worked. After a few years in Chappell and Lodgepole, the family moved to McCook, where Rod attended community college while still working full-time. The family then moved to Lakewood, Colo. Margaret was a stay-at-home mother while Rod worked and completed his bachelors degree at CU-Denver. During the years their children were in elementary school, Margaret worked a variety of jobs - teacher’s aide, school bus driver, school cafeteria worker - that allowed her to be home when the kids got home from school. Later, she worked a few years as a runner at an auto dealership. Margaret and Rodney divorced in 1982, although they maintained a cordial relationship for the rest of her life. She returned to school at Metro College in Denver, earned a bachelors degree in education, and resumed her career as an elementary school teacher; this time in the Denver Public School system. A fellow teacher introduced Margaret to Warren Miller, who became her second husband, traveling companion, partner in mischief, and biggest fan. They married in 2002. After both she and Rod had married other spouses, celebrations at holidays and other occasions simply became larger and more inclusive, with Rod and his wife Barb (Compo), Barb’s family, and Margaret and Warren all enjoying the festivities together with the kids and grandkids, in-laws, and all kinds of extended family. After Margaret and Warren both retired, they would play tennis or golf, go camping, and take long road trips to visit relatives and friends. Their travels took them throughout Nebraska and Colorado and Nevada and California, and all along the Pacific Coast Highway. Margaret’s reputation as an athlete preceded her, and wherever she and Warren visited, she generally got invited to join in some game or another, including playing softball with both Glenda’s and Trish’s slow-pitch teams. (She played for Trish’s co-ed team at age 72!) She also participated in the Colorado Senior Games, winning numerous medals, numerous years, for a variety of events including softball throw, basketball free throws, golf, tennis, bowling, and more. Warren was always there to cheer her on, in sports and in life, and she loved him very much. After he passed away in 2011, Margaret continued to live at the trailer they had called home, on the very best lot at the Denver Cascades mobile home park. In her senior years, Margaret delighted in simple things - a ride in the country, the colors of the leaves on the trees, a cup of coffee and a piece of pie, a funny joke, or a sassy hat that matched her outfit. She also liked to dance, and if there was live music playing, she’d be up and moving to it. She was very proud of her grandchildren Lily, Gauge, Ripp, Mack, and Brock (children of Damon and Charity Lockhart) and Austin (son of Trish and Phil Gandy), and she loved to cheer them on at their games and performances. During the last year of her life, Margaret lived at the Life Care Center of Longmont, where she made fast friends with residents and staff alike. Trish came to visit her several days a week, and would take her out on long rides through the countryside and nearby towns. Margaret was generous in spirit, kind, and compassionate, a self-acknowledged “people person”. She was genuinely interested in the people she knew and the people she just met, always ready with a question or a compliment or some words of encouragement. She enjoyed a little banter, too, “joshing around” as she called it. If she thought you were left out, she’d gather you in. If she thought you were overlooked, she would give you her attention. If she thought you were doing just fine, she’d tell you so, and add how happy she was for you. Maya Angelou wrote “People will forget what you did. They will forget what you said. But they will never forget how you made them feel.” Margaret Lockhart made people feel recognized, appreciated, worthy, and loved. She made the world brighter in a lot of little ways, which together made a big impact. We can honor her memory best by doing the same, in whatever measure we are able. Margaret was pre-deceased by her parents; her sister; her nieces Edith Rogert, Leanna Layman, and Mary Beth Horst, and her nephews, Frank Tatum and Joe Tatum; and by her husband Warren Miller. Margaret is survived by her children and their spouses: Glenda Lockhart and Kerry Mann, Damon and Charity Lockhart (Johnson), and Trish (Lockhart) and Phil Gandy; by her grandchildren, Lily, Gauge, Ripp, Mack, and Brock Lockhart, and Austin Gandy; by her niece and namesake Margaret Tatum-Lloyd; by her nephew Philip Hunt; by numerous grandnieces and grandnephews, and quite a few great grands; by cousins all across the Great Plains; and by numerous friends whom she considered family. There will be a celebration of Margaret Lockhart’s life on Sat., Aug. 5, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Broomfield Community Park (pavilion next to the tennis courts), Second Ave Main Street, Broomfield CO 80020.
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