Obituaries

Lauren Merill Lockwood

Photo of Lauren Merill Lockwood
Ms. Lauren Merill Lockwood passed away unexpectedly Thursday, July 4, 2019, at her home in Columbia, following a brief illness. She was born on September 13, 1980, at Boone Hospital to William Merill and Lucile (Wohlt) Lockwood. The family moved to Jefferson City in 1983, and Lauren was a 1998 graduate of Jefferson City High School. She attended the University of Missouri and spent a semester at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, graduating from Mizzou with a degree in Spanish education in 2003. While she was growing up, she played recreation league and school softball, basketball, ice skated and swam competitively. Skills from the latter eventually enabled her to complete her lifeguarding and water safety instructor certifications. Lauren was baptized in Columbia, confirmed at First United Methodist Church, and sang in the Wesley Choir. She served on two Volunteers-In-Mission teams that went to Mexico and served as a translator. She also played viola throughout high school and for the Jefferson City Symphony. Her life-long involvement with Girl Scouts began as a Brownie and continued all the way through Senior Girl Scouts, earning the Silver Award as a Cadette. She started as a camper at the Girl Scout's Camp Pin Oak and worked her way into the role of counselor with the camp name of "Suzy." She loved to sing, had a beautiful voice, and used it to lead camp songs of which she had a significant repertoire. We often joked that she used high school and college as a filler between summer camp sessions which were her passion. Her life motto developed at camp was, "To make a positive difference while I'm here on this planet," which she followed, always more concerned about others than herself. Following graduation from MU, Lauren began her career as a title clerk with Guaranty Land Title until an opportunity presented itself in 2005, to direct day camp at Seacamp, a resident marine science education training center on Big Pine Key, Florida, where she lived on a house boat. Lauren returned to Missouri in 2009, and immediately began working at Veterans United Home Loans, in roles including senior project manager and loan officer coordinator. She was proud of VU and the good work the company did in the world and her contribution to it. In her words she was, "Doin' what I do at The Awesome Place", helping veterans. Lauren's "larger than life" personality began as a table top dancer at ShowBiz Pizza at the age of two. Her friends and family agreed that she was one of the funniest people that they knew with a warm and generous heart to boot. A skilled writer, many felt she missed her calling by not writing for or performing stand-up comedy. Though she never had children of her own, she loved kids and took a special interest in those of her friends. She was imaginative and creative which was expressed through her craft projects and in her home which she and her dad collaborated to rehab. Lauren loved the outdoors, camping, floating, and kayaking on her "River Pickle", hiking with her dog, flowers, and animals. She also relished trivia contests and enjoyed a good game of poker. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her younger sister, Melissa Lockwood of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; three aunts, Susan Johnson and Pat Lockwood of Jefferson City and Kathy (Steve) Russell of Pleasant Hill; three uncles, Carl Wohlt of Naperville, Illinois, Dennis (Connie) Lockwood of Jefferson City, and Randy (Kathy) Lockwood of Morrison; two great-aunts, Laura Huot of Southern Pines, N.C. and Marjorie "Fuzz" Lockwood of Linn; numerous cousins and dear friends. She is also missed by her loyal canine companion, Stella. She was predeceased by her maternal grandparents, Milton and Glenda (Sandmeyer) Wohlt; paternal grandparents, B.D. "Mac" and Joylene (Uthe) Lockwood; and a maternal uncle, Lawrence Wohlt for whom she was named. Visitation will be at Freeman Mortuary from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 11, 2019, with an additional visitation immediately before her service from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 12, 2019. Memorial services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 12, 2019, in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Dr. Stephen Buchholz and the Reverend Trevor Dancer officiating. Private graveside services will be held at Riverview Cemetery at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Cosmopolitan International Diabetes and Endocrinology Center at MU, Capital Region Medical Foundation, the Veterans United Foundation, or the Jefferson City Animal Shelter. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com

Published July 9, 2019