National Bird Dog Museum Mourns Loss of Founding Member
Photo courtesy The Bird Dog Foundation/Facebook.
The National Bird Dog Museum is mourning the loss of founding member Garette (Gary) Ertel Lockee. Mr. Lockee died on Sunday, August 27, 2023, at the age of 101.
Mr. Lockee, who had a passion for fishing and quail hunting, was a founding member of the Bird Dog Foundation and Museum, “A repository of information, art, photography, and memorabilia reflecting a variety of pointing dog and retriever breeds, hunting, field trial activities, and shooting sports”, located in Grand Junction, Tennessee. Lockee’s bird dogs competed and won numerous field trials.
He was born near Pembroke, North Carolina and later moved to South Carolina to continue his education at the University of South Carolina. Locke later earned a master’s degree from Georgia Washington University.
Mr. Lockee completed a 30-year military career having served in the Vietnam and Korean Wars, earning many wartime decorations, and retired at the rank of captain. His funeral will be with full military honors at First Baptist Church of Grand Junction on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with a reception afterwards at the National Bird Dog Museum to celebrate his life.
He made his home in Hardeman County where he was an active member of First Baptist Church of Grand Junction, Tennessee. Mr. Lockee enjoyed life and what mattered most to him: “his family and friends, the abundance of nature, his country, and his God”.
“If you would like to do anything, you can send a donation to the museum in his memory. This was his love and passion,” said Lockee’s wife, Sally Storm Lockee.
Donations may be made in Gary Lockee’s Memory to First Baptist Church of Grand Junction, 134 Washington Avenue, Grand Junction, Tennessee, 38039, or to the National Bird Dog Museum of Grand Junction, 505 Highway 57 East, Grand Junction, Tennessee 38039-6036.
You may read Mr. Lockee’s full obituary here.
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