Biography: Norma Jean Lockwood was born in Little Rock on September 26, 1926. She was married to Gene Lockwood for 65 wonderful years. They celebrated their anniversary on June 16th. Norma Jean liked everyone and loved her special friends, you know who you are. She never said a negative word and her glass was always half full. To quote Norma Jean, ?Life is Good?. Norma Jean?s parents were Hannah Greenberg Rephan and Ed I. Rephan. She lived in Hope, Arkansas until the age of 6 when her father moved the family to Hot Springs. She grew up in Hot Springs and graduated from Hot Springs High School. During World War II she worked for the American Red Cross Gray Lady Service. Norma Jean attended college at the University of Illinois and the University of Miami. It was on a trip home from college when she started dating Gene Lockwood and fell in love. They married on June 16th, 1946. (they had known each other since the age of 6.) Norma Jean and Gene lived in Hot Springs until 1955 when they moved to Little Rock. Then, the two of them started Gene Lockwood?s Sporting Goods, which is still a thriving business today. When business allowed, Norma Jean began her favorite occupation; full time housewife and mother plus working for several charities. Norma Jean loved to exercise and would walk 4 or 5 time a week with her good friend Shirley Strauss. As Norma Jean would say, ?I?m walking and Shirley?s talking?. Norma Jean loved to play golf and spent many happy hours playing with her husband and their lifelong friends, Bobby and Bud Bauman. Later in life she took up tennis with a passion. She became a very nice tennis player, and nothing gave her more joy than beating her husband in singles. Norma Jean loved animals of all kinds, especially her dogs. After her beloved Skeeter went to ?puppy heaven?, she vowed never to get another dog. She kept her word; she didn?t get another dog, she got two, Priscilla and Turbo. Norma Jean had two children, a son Jody Lockwood who preceded her in death, and a daughter Dana Lockwood. Some of her favorite times were traveling with Jody. The two of them traveled extensively visiting every continent except Antarctica and Australia. They were the perfect travel companions. Norma Jean traveled to every state except North and South Dakota. She accomplished everything on her bucket list except an African safari, which she had planned for her 85th birthday in September. In October of last year Norma Jean attended the Albuquerque Balloon Festival and took a hot balloon ride with her ?son by choice, Marty Ward?. On the same trip, the two of them went to Santa Fe and walked and shopped all day. Norma Jean out walked Marty, leaving him in her wake and sitting on a park bench. Norma Jean Lockwood is survived by her loving husband, Gene Lockwood, her daughter Dana Lockwood, her brother and his wife Bernard and Sandy Rephan, a host of nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her special friends, Larry Jordan, Marty, Kim, Cody and Tyler Ward, and son in law Larry Storthz. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Humane Society of Pulaski County, 14600 Colonel Glenn Rd, LR, AR 72210 or UAMS attention Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, 4301 W. Markham, LR, AR 72205. Memorial Service will be held Monday, Aug 1, at Temple B?Nai Israel, at 2;00 p.m. Thanks goes out to Arkansas Hospice and Gobby Ward for the kindness they displayed. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home,www.ruebelfuneralhome.com