Loyd & Barbara Lockard

Who where They? 

I know this isn’t the normal type of posts. But this is something that these two amazing people deserve. Loyd and Barbara never desired the fancy high end lifestyle. Did they work hard? Absolutely… But they where motivated by family vacations. By seeing my baseball games. My sisters dance team performances. They desired a good happy home. Well dammit!! They sure did a great job making that happen to the fullest they could. Did we have ruff patches? Hell yes! Did we have family drama? For sure! But thru it all, they lasted. Over 40yrs of marriage! So YES thats why they deserve this.

Their Life’s before US.

Loyd Lockard grew up in California. There was one point as they (Loyd&Barbara) where growing up. Where they were living within a couple miles of each other, and not even knowing.. My dad had 2 brothers one being a step brother. They where great uncles. They where so damn funny lol. My dad at one point tried joining the army but got denied. He had to flat of feet and couldn’t enlist. So when he knew I was going to join! OMG he was so proud and happy.. So he just hit the road after finding out he could join. He hitchhiked all over lol. Now thats tuff. He did that for a long period of time. Doing random jobs. Always being a hard worker with whatever he did. But he just wanted to see where life takes him. Don’t forget this was in the 60’s and 70’s even into the 80’s. So it was a little more common then. He was married once before. That relationship didn’t work out. So some years later, he was randomly doing some work where he had to travel to deliver homes. He stumbled into Winnemucca Nv. Some small little town. Went to a bar one night with a friend and well who served him his drinks?!

Barbara Sessinghaus also grew up in California. She was the youngest of 3 sisters. Grew up in a pretty strict religious home. So if you know my mom. You’d know she’s pretty free spirited lol. So that type of household didn’t sit the best with her. So once she graduated HS she left straight to college. After some college of studying marine biology. Decided college wasn’t for her. So she also hit the road lol. Hitch hiking, joining motorcycle groups that travel across country lol. Just living! Married a man for a period of time that also didn’t work out. Barbara then again lol. Hit the Road! lol. Found herself making great money serving at this small town casino bar. One night she was moving, making money working when she asked a certain gentleman what he would like to drink!

Their Life Together.

So how did they get married? lol…Wellllll its not the most romantic lol BUT! Its awesome in its own way. They started dating then after maybe 6months. They where out partying with friends these two had the idea to get married that night! lol Mind you its like midnight. They aren’t in Las Vegas lol. So everything was closed. One of their friends new a pastor. So they called him at midnight drunk lol.. Asked if he would marry them! He did, and they had been together thru it all, all the way till their final days. How beautifully crazy is that lol!

As Parents.

They had my sister and I into their mid to later 30’s. So for those who may think its too late to still try? It’s not! Take care of your health, get your mind and body right. Get rooted in faith. Then, just be open minded to what may come your way! I was in baseball for 9 years. Atleast one of them was always at a game of mine. Same with my sisters performances. My sister went thru some life altering surgeries during her High School years. They devoted so much needed time with Jenny. Focusing on getting their daughter better. She almost died. But thank God she was able to have the proper surgeries to be able to live a mostly normal life. We went on a week long summer trip to the Oregon Coast every years straight for like 10 years. Other trips also. Growing up small town life. Did they have their own battles and demons they fought? Yes, just like all of us. But I couldn’t have asked for overall better parents to raise us. They where amazing. We had amazing holidays along with more memories than I can conceive.

Their Last Chapters.

Wow typing that heading just now was TUFF… Damn…. BUT their final years where filled with time together in their rocking recliners watching all sports thru the years. They loved sports, and watching it together. My father passed away last January 2024. The last year and a half.. For my mom just wasn’t easy for her. Her health and vision started to decline. Her mood was never the same. Totally understandable too. She lost her best friend. Her everything. That weight I don’t know. So her and I were talking around the end of this August of 2025. I asked her if she ever is just ready to go be with dad? She said ” Yes, I’ve lived a good life. I’m ready”. September 13th 2025. She went to go be with dad.

THEIR SONG..

To Close.

Life flashes by as we have all seen a lot lately…. SO do something BOLD.. SPEAK UP!!.. BE COURAGEOUS.. START NOW.. START NEW.. Whatever it is that you need to lean into. Whatever it is that you know you need to do!… As we always hear, but usually doesn’t hit us until we loose someone close. DO IT!!! Don’t live life without being the full real you.. Go after whaat you want. I shared this also because there isn’t enough transparency in the world. Allowing people AT TIMES to see the ups and downs of life.

Lets them know

1. That their not alone.

2. That its part of life and that you can and will get thru it.

Life is not butterflies and rainbows. So the more we can be real and honest with ourselves and with other people. The more impact we could have in our life, and the life’s of others. So Mom,Dad. Jenny and I love you two with every part of our being. SO grateful to God, for having such supportive and encouraging parents. A goofy father who always called me champ. Always said he was proud of me. A loving and supportive mom. Please don’t let the only person in your life to ever tell someone their proud of them is their parents. Be sincere, but letting someone know how proud you are of them. You have no idea what it can do for someone that day. So to end. Thank you for reading thru with me. I wanted to give you insight into these two amazing people. Until Next post. BE BOLD.. #projectabetterme