Obituaries

George Edward "Butch" Locke

Photo of George Edward "Butch" Locke
George Edward "Butch" Locke, 85, of Hot Springs, Ark., died peacefully on March 2, in Hot Springs. He was born on May 20, 1935, in Monticello, Ark., the son of Carl Wilson Locke and George Frances Carpenter Locke. He was a native of Hamburg, Arkansas. Butch was a retired Arkansas State Senator and former owner of numerous businesses. He had a passion for golf and horse-racing. His home in Hot Springs was just two miles from one of his favorite hangouts, Oaklawn Racetrack. As in all areas of his life, he was on a first-name basis with all the regulars at the track. Butch was an avid sports fan, especially the Arkansas Razorbacks and his grandchildren's sporting events. He was prone to jumping up and yelling at the TV during televised Hog games. Butch started as a Freshman on the Arkansas A&M (University of Arkansas at Monticello) football squad in 1953. After graduation from college, he was hired as Head Football Coach in Stamps, Arkansas. He coached three sports annually before moving back to Hamburg to join his father in the timber and insurance business. Butch was active in the First Baptist Church while living in Hamburg and was proud of his family's involvement since the church founding. Butch's greatest moment on the golf course was a hole-in-one in his early 70's. He loved collecting lost balls from the golf course ponds and out-of-bounds. The trunk of his car had to be emptied twice from hundreds of golf balls. It is an understatement to say that Butch lived a full life. The guardian angel that seemed to watch over and protect him gave him the freedom to live a life full of fun, adventure, and love with those he touched. His friends over the years in the Hamburg, Little Rock, and Hot Springs area have told many stories of fun and laughter with Butch. Butch spent his last 15 years with his loving wife, Renee Harrell Locke. Renee was his final angel sent from heaven to love and laugh with him as his health declined. His children wish to express their deepest appreciation for the gift of Renee's love and care for their father. Renee and family wish to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dawn Walters for her compassion and love as his caregiver. Butch was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Frances Carpenter Locke; a sister, Sara Beth Locke, and the mother of his children, Venda Hahn Locke. He is survived by his wife, Renee Harrell Locke; his daughters, Carla Locke McCord and husband, Bill, all of Hot Springs, Haley Locke Elliott and husband, Bruce, of Lake Village, and Georganna Locke Faulkner and husband, John, of Hot Springs; his son, Joe Locke and wife, Sharon, of Little Rock; his stepdaughter, Megan Harrell of Little Rock, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be 1-2 p.m., Saturday, March 6, 2021, in the Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home Chapel. Everyone in attendance will be required to wear a mask. Private Burial will be in the Hamburg Cemetery with Dr. Bobby Pennington officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home of Hamburg, Arkansas. Online guestbook: www.jones-hartshorn.com.

Published March 4, 2021

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