Wade Lockaby

Wadie Eugene Lockaby (Wade), age 89, passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at his home in Fort Worth, Texas.  He was born February 8, 1931 in Bonham Texas (Fannin County) to John and Josie (Knipe) Lockaby.

Wade grew up in Bonham and spent much of his childhood and teen years living and working on a cattle ranch.  He shared many stories over the years with his children and especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren, about his days of working on the ranch and how much he enjoyed that time in his life.

The time on the ranch served him well because as he tells it, that is where he learned to “swing a hammer” by helping to build barns and other buildings on the ranch.  This ranching experience helped him to become a building contractor later in life.

Another favorite job during his later working years was building small churches in Fort Worth neighborhoods.  The congregations were always so appreciative of their new church and had such pride in the finished product.  He liked that they would stop by each day to speak with him and to ask about the building process while he worked.

Wade was a wonderful dancer since he grew up with four sisters and they used him as their dance partner to practice when they were growing up.  He always had plenty of dance partners because of his excellent dance skills.

Wade was a happy person and always had a smile and handshake or hug for everyone. He loved people and looked forward to meeting friends for breakfast at his favorite restaurant in west Fort Worth, going to holiday parties and any reason for having family gatherings.

He was loved by all and will be dearly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Josie Lockaby; brothers and sisters, Loretta Duvak, Betty Aderholt, Fay Large, Ruth Rendon, John Lockaby (brother), Larry Lockaby, Leeman Lockaby, Garland Lockaby; and children, Gary Don Lockaby and Wade Lee Lockaby.

Those left to cherish Wade’s memories are his son, Jerry Lynn Lockaby of Fort Worth; daughters, Teresa Ann Lockaby (Simmons) of Fort Worth, Brenda Joyce Lockaby (Horn) of Weatherford; stepdaughters, Valerie Haney of Fort Worth, Billie Kay of Arkansas and Arnold Wilcox of Arkansas, stepson, Walter Watson; and fourteen grandchildren.