Noryne Carmen Morgan Lockwood, 97, passed away May 10, 2025, at Ascension Saint Thomas Highlands Hospital, in Sparta.
She was born April 18, 1928, in Toledo, Ohio, to Paul and Carmen Morgan.
She grew up in The Depression, but, thanks to her Uncle Charles Morgan and Grandmother Morgan, they never went hungry. She and her three sisters (Paulyne, Virginia, and Barbara) all took piano lessons at an early age, and Noryne stilled played her baby grand piano until recently. She attended Libby High School, in Toledo, where she met the love of her life, Roy Lockwood. They married June 30, 1949, and enjoyed 28 years of marriage until Roy passed away, in 1978.
She attended the University of Michigan, thanks to her Uncle Robert Morgan who was the head of the UM Alumni Association. In 1946, the war was over, and there was a lot of football recruiting going on, and, because of the unusual spelling of her first name, she entered UM on a football scholarship. She loved telling that story. She graduated in 1950 with an education degree.
As a member of Glenwood Lutheran Church for over 40 years, in Toledo, she was a council member, sang in the chancel choir, was a rehearsal pianist, assistant choir director, and soloist. But she got the most joy out of being the director of the Children's Choir for many years. She still received Christmas cards from many of those children to this day.
She worked as a credit manager for Impact Products until she retired at the age of 62. She started “dating” Burt Sigley who was the head of a large department store, in Toledo. She called them her “Glory Years” because she was treated to high society by attending fancy balls given by the Toledo Symphony and Opera Guild. She and Burt remained good friends for 31 years before he passed away, in 2009.
Noryne was a world traveler thanks to her Uncle Charlie who believed travel was an educational experience. She had been to Hawaii, Europe, Middle East, Mexico, Far East, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, Australia, Russia, Israel, British Isles, China, Tibet, and Hong Kong, and all 50 states.
From 1949 to 2023, she made and sent homemade Christmas cards to over 150 friends and family. Her friends always looked forward to them every year.
She moved to Sparta, in 2012, to be close to her pride and joy – her family. She won a blue ribbon in the senior talent contest at the White County Senior Day and was very proud of that. She was a member of Sparta First United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and enjoyed being a member of the United Women of Faith.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Gaynor (Greg), of Sparta; her son, Michael Lockwood (Lori), of Farragut; grandchildren, Megan Blaylock (Nick), of Sparta, Lt. Col Patrick Gaynor (Lauren), of Colorado Springs, Robert Lockwood, of Birmingham Alabama, John Lockwood (Erin), of Farragut; great-grandchildren, Zachary Blaylock, Wyatt Blaylock, Macy Gaynor, Miles Gaynor, Elise Blaylock, James Lockwood, Allison Lockwood; sisters, Paulyne Woggon (Bud), of Swanton Ohio, Virginia Keeton (Fred), of Swanton Ohio; and nieces and nephews, Denise Shesky (Dave), Maricarmen Westmark, Kathy Cerone, Roy Woggon, Fred Keeton Jr., and Paul Keeton (Nancy), all of Ohio.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m., May 14, 2025, at Hunter Funeral Home, with burial in Lower Cherry Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m., May 13, at the funeral home. Bro. Hyeon Hong will officiate.
Hunter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
