Mary Ellen Lockhart

Mary Ellen Lockhart (nee Booth), 87, died at home in Cross Plains, Tennessee on December 20, 2023, surrounded by family and friends. She was born at home in Littleton, WV on November 20, 1936 to Lee and Mabel (Haught) Booth. She is survived by daughter Cherie Vonne Cox, son Stephen Lawrence Garrison, grandchildren Terra Ellen Pearson (Erich), Natalie Vonne Paslay (Eric), Nathaniel Lawrence Cox (Brittany), 3 great grandchildren, Finn and Liam Pearson and Piper Paslay, as well as stepchildren Richard (Patty), Edward and Robert Lockhart and several step-grandchildren.   She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Lockhart and previous husband Lawrence Junior Garrison, sister Monna Lee Fletcher and brother John Booth.  

Mary Ellen received her nursing degree in 1987 and worked as a nurse for many years in Weirton, WV,  Pittsburgh, PA and Hartville, OH, until her marriage to Tom. Mary Ellen and Tom made their home in Hartville, Oh and enjoyed many trips to Florida and visiting family, until moving to Tennessee in 2017 to be closer to family, where they lived on the farm of granddaughter Natalie and husband Erich. She enjoyed being on the farm immensely, having her pre-dawn coffee with Natalie playing “quiddler” or sitting on the front porch or back deck with her beloved Pomeranians, Ellie and Neisha and feeding the birds, as well as whatever stray small animal wandered her way, most notably, her rescued one-eyed cat Willie.    

Mary Ellen was “grammy” to all the grandchildren and great grandchildren and will be lovingly remembered for her kindness and caring nature, her wonderful laugh, beauty, glamour, playful sense of humor and generosity (regularly allowing Piper to rummage through her jewelry boxes and make-up case). She is deeply missed.

The family thanks Be Blessed care home and Highpoint Hospice for the assistance that they provided during the last few years.  A memorial service will be held on the TN farm at a later date.