Jacqueline Locke

Jacqueline Locke, 81, of New Bern, North Carolina, passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern, after a short illness.

A funeral service to honor Jacqueline's life will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Munden Funeral Home in Havelock, officiated by Rev. Jim Buchholz. Entombment will follow at Forest Oaks Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. prior to the service. For those unable to attend, the service can be viewed through her obituary page on Munden Funeral Home's website. The service will remain on the Funeral Home website for 90 days.

Jacqueline was born September 14, 1943, in Syracuse, New York. She started her associates degree in home economics at Morrisville College in New York in 1962. There she met the love of her life, Edward Locke Jr., and became his wife on March 10, 1963. She always had an entrepreneur spirit and was the energy behind many business adventures they had together. With her husband, they opened an auto parts store “Ed’s Custom Auto” in 1970. Later, Jacqueline and her husband also owned a boarding stable “Wishing Well Ranch”. Other adventures were a nursery, Christmas Tree Lot, Online Retail Site, and multiple flea market booths.

She was a devoted mother, as shown by coaching her girls’ basketball team, leading their girl scout troop and attending many chorus concerts, swim meets, gymnastic competitions and horse shows. She spent many hours enjoying cooking, canning and baking with her girls. She was an avid gardener. Each summer there would be flower gardens surrounding her home, a huge vegetable garden and in later years she had house plants galore! She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting and crafting.

After raising their girls Ed and Jackie retired to Melbourne, Florida for 20 years and then moved to New Bern, North Carolina to be closer to family.

Jackie is survived by three sisters, Linda DeLong (Charles Fantrazo) of Sanborn, New York, Candace Casaro (Late Joseph) of Niagara Falls, New York, and Lola White (Randy) of Grand Island, New York; one brother, Robert Van Epps (Heather Curtis) of Pahokee, Florida; three daughters, Catherine “Holly” George and husband Curtis of Havelock, North Carolina, Cynthia “Cindy” Pietrzykowski and husband David of North Tonawanda, New York, and Tina Rowe and husband Clinton of Havelock, North Carolina; four granddaughters, Jacqueline Clay (Rowe) and husband Patrick Clay, Samantha Pietrzykowski, Elizabeth George and Abigail Pietrzkowski; one grandson, Jacob Rowe and fiancé Alysa Wallace; one great granddaughter, Lyra Clay; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her mother and father, Clifton and Anna (Eodice) Van Epps of Niagara Falls, New York; her husband, Edward Locke Jr., of New Bern, North Carolina; two children, Edward, III and Dennis of Valley Cottage, New York; grandchild, Sarah Pietrzykowski of North Tonawanda, New York; and her brother, Clifton Van Epps of Lewiston, New York.

1. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the Crystal Coast Hospice House, P.O. Box 640, Newport, NC 28570.
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Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Cremations in Havelock, NC.