Larry Keith Lockett, 86, of Hale Center, passed away Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Olton, Texas.  Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at Hale Center Cemetery.  A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at the First Baptist Church in Hale Center with Rev. Taylor Smith officiating and under the direction of Ramage Funeral Directors.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, June 19, 2023, at Ramage Funeral Directors in Hale Center.

Larry was born in Lockett, Texas on September 13, 1936, to parents, Lester and Lillie Lockett. At the age of 10, he and his family moved to Meadow, where he grew up on the farm with his four siblings. He attended Meadow High School and then went on to earn his bachelor's degree from Hardin-Simmons University in 1960. While there, he met his sweetheart, Flora "Gay" Nippert and they married on August 30, 1958.  They settled in Hale Center where they raised their three daughters.

He and his family were members of the First Baptist Church of Hale Center, where he served as a deacon.  This community allowed them to make lifelong friends.  He taught high school, junior high, and coached football and basketball. In his spare time, he farmed.  Once he retired from teaching, he started his own roofing and insulation business. In his later years, he and Gay enjoyed attending their grandgirls sporting events and activities.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Lillie Lockett, an older brother, Norman Lockett, a younger brother, Perry Lockett and wife Margaret Lockett Johnson, a younger sister, Precious Lockett Johnson, and sister-in-law, Karen Nippert.

Larry is forever remembered by his loving wife of 64 years, Gay Lockett of Hale Center; three daughters, Shanna Harris of Midland, Rhonda and husband, Frank Paniszczyn of Cypress, and Kristi and husband David Downs of Plains.  He was blessed with six granddaughters: Mackenzie and Morgan (Harris), Hannah and Bailey (Paniszczyn), and Sydney and Macy (Downs); one sister, Annette Densmore and husband Jim of Bluff Dale, sister-in-law, Norma Lockett of Lubbock, brother-in-law, Truman Johnson and wife Jan of San Angelo, brother-in-law, Dale Johnson of Lubbock, brother-in-law, Derrill Nippert of Lubbock, and several nieces and nephews.

The family suggest memorials be made to the First Baptist Church of Hale Center P.O. Box 396 Hale Center, Texas 79041.