Jimmie Lockerd

Services have been moved indoors to Letitia Baptist Church Fellowship Hall at 2:00 pm, Saturday, January 18, 2025, David Bunch officiating under the direction of Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home in Walters, OK.

Jimmie Lockerd was born on May 17, 1927 in Portales, New Mexico, to Gordon Everette and Addie Augusta (Mayfield) Lockerd and departed this life in Mangum, Oklahoma, on December 15, 2024 at the age of 97 years, 6 months and 28 days.

Jimmie grew up in Portales until age 7 when they moved to the family homestead in Greer County near Mangum. By age 16 he had his pilot license, eventually owning his first airplane, a Piper Cub. He graduated from Mangum High School in 1946 and went to live with his aunt in New Mexico where he attended the New Mexico State College at Los Cruces. He returned to Mangum where he worked for Carl Cook and Bob Toma fixing radios and jukeboxes. 

Jimmie married Harriett Arneta Penn on December 5, 1951 in Mangum. To the union 3 children were born. Jim and Arneta made their home in Mangum. Jim heard about KSWO TV and Radio in Lawton. He and Arneta moved and Jim began a 30-year career as KSWO’s Chief Engineer. He also designed and drafted a major facility addition to the TV station that is still in use today. 

Jimmie got reacquainted with Sara Belle (Beck) Tidmore at a Mangum School Reunion and they married on August 24 th,1996, making their home in Oklahoma City until returning to Mangum in 2020.They have enjoyed the past 28 years together surrounded by friends and family.

Jimmie loved flying, reading, genealogy, celebrating with friends, rock hunting, and writing a book about his family history. He was a Ham Radio Operator, Call Sign: W5RRC, and enjoyed tinkering on things, as he was always looking for a new project. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Joseph Gordon Lockerd; a brother, Benjamin Lockerd; and 2 sisters, Sybil Richardson, and Marjorie Hall.

Survivors include his wife, Sara Tidmore of the home; 2 daughters, Jessica Dawne Hennessee of Lawton and Anna Rebecca Bunch and David of Medicine Park; his stepdaughter, Tamara Caudle and John of Colleyville, Texas; 4 granddaughters and 2 grandsons; 13 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.