Aileen C. Lockridge

MISSOULA – On Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at the young age of 90, our loving mother went home to join the rest of her family.

She was born April 10, 1922, in Missoula to Alfred and Hazel Smith of Potomac. At an early age, she lost both of her parents and moved from the family ranch in Potomac to be raised by a guardian in Ronan. After graduating from Ronan High School, she went to beauty school, but was unable to complete the training when she found she was allergic to the chemicals. During World War II, she worked in the shipyards in Tacoma, Wash., and then enlisted in the U.S. Naval Services. She was stationed at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., where she worked on the IBM computers of the time. She was honorably discharged in 1945 and returned home to Montana.

On June 27, 1948, she married Melvin E. Lockridge and they were blessed with four children. She was devoted to raising her children and was always "volunteered" to transport and assist with many club events and activities, as well as the primary planner for summer vacations spent at the cabin in Seeley Lake. She loved gardening and always took special care of her raspberry bushes.

She was a 50-plus-year member of both Rose Croix White Shrine and Immanuel Chapter 54 Order of Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Hazel Smith; her husband, Melvin Lockridge, and her sister, LaVerne Lockridge. Survivors include her four children, Melvin (Kathy) Lockridge, Valerie Lockridge, David (Laurel) Lockridge and Shirley (Brian) McKirdy. She was blessed with seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 at Garden City Funeral Home. Please join the family in light refreshments following the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to a charity of your choice.

Read Aileen Lockridge's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.