ARLINGTON - Maxine Locke, 96, died January 27, 2010, at Promise Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson.

She was born April 25, 1913, in Syracuse, KS, the daughter of Arba Clayton and Blanche Wallis Groome Ferris.

She was raised in the Monitor Community in McPherson County. She came to Arlington to teach and has been a resident since 1938.

She was a member of Arlington United Methodist Church, Silver Leaf Chapter of Eastern Star.

She graduated from Emporia State University in 1938. She taught at Prairie Queen and Star of Bethany, both one-room schools in McPherson County, Arlington, Stafford and South Hutchinson schools, retiring in 1977.

She married Lorie Locke on September 12, 1943, in Conway, Kansas. He preceded her in death on December 30, 2004.

Survivors include: a son, Mark and his wife, Darlene, Manassas Park, Va.; two daughters, Loreen McMillan and husband Jim, and Connie Locke, both of Topeka; five grandchildren, Robert and Timothy Locke, Loren McMillan, Wayne Pendarvis and Charlene Rutherford; eight great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and two brothers-in-law, Gale Locke and wife Agnes, Arlington, and Gene Locke, South Hutchinson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, Madeline Nelson, Lucille Anderson, Lois Juanita Ferris and a brother, Robert Ferris.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday, February 1, 2010, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday with family greeting friends from 3 to 5 p.m. at the mortuary. Burial will be in the Arlington Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to Arlington United Methodist Church or to American Diabetes Association, in care of the Elliott Mortuary, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson.

Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a personal condolence for the family.