Thomas Andrew Lockard
1997-2006Rest
in peace,
beloved classmate
|
From a newspaper:
Camarillo, Calif. — Thomas Andrew Lockard, 58, Camarillo, died
Wednesday, April 19, 2006, in a motorcycle accident in Oxnard,
Calif. Cremation is planned.
He was born Dec. 14, 1947, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of
Margaret Isabelle Broaddus and Henry Arthur Lockard. He grew
up in Lawrence, Kan., and attended Lawrence schools through
his junior year of high school. He graduated from high school
in Dayton, Ohio, and received an accounting degree from Black
Hills State College in Spearfish, S.D. He lived in California
for about 20 years.
Mr. Lockard served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam
War. He was an accountant for the Oxnard Union High School
District.
Survivors include a companion, Connie Lockard, of the home; a
daughter, Taylor Lockard, of the home; two stepdaughters,
Julie and Jackie Backer, both of Camarillo; a brother, Henry
Lockard II, Tecumseh, Kan.; two sisters, Allison Lockard,
Sweetwater, Okla., and Sue Collister, St. Louis; and a
grandson.
From the Ventura County, Calif., newspaper:
http://www.legacy.com/venturacountystar/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=17538225
Thomas Andrew "Andy" Lockard, 58, of Camarillo became the
product of his own observation when he was killed in a
motorcycle accident in Oxnard, Wednesday, April 19, 2006. Andy
said in March, after his mother died, that he thought people
were leaving this life because, "they weren't supposed to live
through what's coming up." But in the same breath he boasted,
"Always knew I was a lucky bastard."
Andy was district accountant for Oxnard Union High School
District and he was a Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War.
He was born Dec. 14, 1947, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of
Margaret Isabelle Broaddus and Henry Arthur Lockard. He grew
up in Lawrence, Kan., and attended Lawrence schools through
his junior year of high school. He graduated from high school
in Dayton, Ohio, and later earned an accounting degree at
Black Hills State College in Spearfish, S.D. His life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness led him about 20 years ago to
California, where he had worked in various jobs and developed
a love for woodworking.
Andy's death
followed a four-month period in which he lost three family
members, and the subject was on his mind. And he spoke his
mind, saying, "I have a theory. Just about everybody I know is
having a death in the family. I think it was what Hunter
Thompson said, 'Big dark is coming.' People are leaving this
life because they are not supposed to live through what's
coming up."
"Big dark" found Andy straddling about 1,000 cubic centimeters
of internal combustion power on Camino del Sol as he tooled
down his path to enlightenment.
He appreciated powerful engines, handcrafted woodwork, music,
stories with a mix of love and violence, sumptuous repast,
fine tobacco and a good drink. And football. He participated
in high school football in Kansas and Ohio, and
enthusiastically followed the college game and the NFL.
The Ventura County medical examiner listed Andy's cause of
death as multiple blunt-force injuries, which unfortunately
paints a picture of Andy as the incarnate player in Paul
Craft's humorous lyrics, "Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goal
Posts of Life."
But he wouldn't have complained. While speaking his mind last
month he mentioned learning from those who preceded him in
death. He said, "Whenever something happens that causes me to
think, I thank God and my ancestors for letting me learn."
But his focus of concern was that his prayers were "getting
crowded now. ... thank you Dad, thank you Nan, thank you Hal
(Palmer)."
And with his passing, those left grateful for the privilege to
have been part of his life include a companion, Connie, at
home; a daughter, Taylor; two stepdaughters, Julie Backer, and
Jackie Backer; a grandson, Aidan Adair Backer; a brother,
Henry II, in Kansas; and two sisters, Allison in Oklahoma and
Sue in Missouri. Cremation is planned. |
