Myrl Lockett

If there is one word to describe Myrl Lockett it would be passionate; she was passionate about the things she believed in and wasnt afraid to fight for the improvement of the causes she felt so strongly about. She worked hard all of her life, even when health issues could have slowed her down. Myrl was a loving and dedicated sister, mother, and grandmother who lived life to its fullest. During the mid 1930s, our nation was tightly held in the grip of the Great Depression and American families did what they could to make their lives happy. John and Ruth (Miller) Schofield of Kalamazoo, Michigan were looking forward to their own joyous occasion, as Ruth was expecting the birth of their first child at any time. They were soon blessed with the arrival of their first daughter whom they named Myrl, on August 17, 1936. Soon after, Myrl was joined by five additional siblings at their home on the small family farm in Plainwell, Michigan where they grew corn and had some animals. All of the children were required to help out with the farm duties and Myrl established a strong work ethic that would stay with her throughout her entire lifetime. When their family wasnt working, they often enjoyed vacationing in the Silver Lake area, where they were often joined by extended family that lived nearby and they sometimes even camped right on the infamous sand dunes found on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. Myrl and her family attended St. Margarets Catholic Church in Otsego and she attended Plainwell High School where she was a good student and participated in drama. She dated the star quarterback, Ron VanLent off and on during her high school years. Ron and Myrl graduated from high school in 1954 and were married just a short time later, in 1955 at St. Margarets Church. The newlyweds were soon blessed with their first child whom they named Rose in 1955, followed by brothers Ron Jr., Mike, and then Mark, in 1963. Ron supported his family doing factory work and Myrl helped out as well by working part time as a nurses aid at the state hospital in Kalamazoo. Ron was tragically killed in a car accident in 1964. As a single mother, Myrl moved with her children into a duplex that she was able to purchase with insurance money and her Aunt CB and Uncle Dan moved in on the other side, bringing their four children with them as well. This made a total of eight children all together! CB helped look after Myrls children while she went back to school to become an LPN and worked two jobs to help make ends meet. So many children in one area could be quite a handful at times, especially when Myrls dates would come by to pick her up! Myrl was a loving yet firm mother who would toss her childrens clothes out into the yard when they were left lying around! Myrls life was changed when she met a man named Frank Lockett while she was out dancing one night. The two began dating, were later married, and soon moved their family into the Muskegon Townhouses, followed by a home on New St. in Muskegon, Michigan. Here, Myrl got a job as an LPN for the state run Muskegon Regional Center. Myrl enjoyed her job, but her personal life was a bit more difficult as her marriage was full of various trials and ended in divorce shortly after their family moved to Muskegon. Myrls job at the Regional Center paved the way for what would be a very unique and exciting path for the rest of her working days. She became active in the union at work, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). She eventually left her job as an LPN and went to work as a union organizer for AFSCME full time. Myrl loved this job and since her kids were grown, she was able to travel to different cities and spend three to six months at a time organizing new unions over the span of her 15 year employment. There were times that these jobs were rough, however, and Myrl found herself arrested several times for civil disobedience! She was a constant advocate for womens rights and attended many ERA rallies around the country. She was active in the Coalition of Labor Union Women and even served as its vice president for a time. Myrl was proud to be sent to South Africa as an international observer when Nelson Mandela was elected president in May of 1994. Myrl retired in 1999, but still remained active in local politics as a staunch democrat. When Myrl, or "Mo Mo" as she was also known, wasnt working as a reformer, she enjoyed traveling with her sisters on their fun sister trips, and she also opened a restaurant in downtown Muskegon called Lothlorien with her friend Mary Wiggins during the mid 1980s. Although the business didnt last long, the friendship between Myrl and Mary lasted a lifetime and the two friends even lived together for a time. Myrl also embraced being a grandmother; she did special things with her grandchildren like when she went on a hot air balloon ride with her grandson Dean. Over the years Myrl was plagued with various health issues like diabetes, and heart and liver problems, although these issues didnt hold her back until the past few years. During these later years, she moved into their old family home on New St. with her daughter Rose who took excellent care of her, even during her last days when her health began drastically declining. Myrl Lockett was a free thinker with strong beliefs that she was not afraid to live out, for all the world to see. She lived her life to its fullest, even though her life was not always easy. She loved politics and traveling, but the part of life that brought her the greatest joy was her role as a mother and grandmother. She will be deeply missed by all those she leaves behind. Myrl A. Lockett died on Tuesday, November 18, 2008. Myrls family includes her sons, Ronald (Meg) VanLent of MD, Mike VanLent of Ann Arbor, Mark (Carrie Weis) VanLent of Big Rapids; daughter, Rose Anne VanLent of Muskegon; grandchildren, Dean Davis of Muskegon, Connor VanLent of MD, Katherine VanLent of MD; brothers, John Schofield of Allendale, Tom (Sally) Schofield; sisters, Patricia Hislop, Sue Howrigon both of NC, Chris Schofield Mills of Plainwell; sister-in-law, Linda Noyd of Ferrysburg; many nieces, nephews & cousins; aunt, Claribell 'CB' Schofield. She was preceded in death by 1st husband Ron in 1964. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2008, 3:00 p.m. at Clock Chapel with Rev. Don Mathews officiating. Visit with Myrls family on Saturday, 1 hour prior to the service. Please visit Myrls memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can leave a favorite memory, sign the online guest book, or make a memorial contribution to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Arrangements made by Clock Life Story Funeral Homes - Muskegon location - Muskegon, MI.