LANITA KAYE HACKNEY

LOCKWOOD- Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, at the Lockwood United Methodist Church, for LaNita Kaye (Wilhelm) Hackney, 59, Lockwood, who died with her loved ones by her side on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, after a long and difficult battle with brain cancer.

A visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 12 noon.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lockwood Funeral Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lockwood Elementary School.

Survivors include her husband, Craig Hackney; daughters, Kate Hackney and Jolean Gunter; son-in-law, Ethan Gunter; sisters, Juanita Seela and husband Leroy and Bonnie Hayden and brothers, Gary Wilhelm and wife Helen, John Wilhelm and Steven Wilhelm and wife Jill.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilburn and Arlean Wilhelm; her in-laws, Bill and Joan Hackney; one sister, Mary Arlean Wilhelm and two brothers-in-law, Larry Hayden and Jim Hackney.

Mrs. Hackney was born Dec. 14, 1964, in Lamar. She graduated as valedictorian of her senior class at Golden City High School in 1983 and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from MSSU in 1987.

She spent most of her career teaching at Lockwood Public Schools. This is where she met the love of her life, Craig Hackney. The two were married on July 25, 1992, in Lockwood.

Mrs. Hackney dedicated her entire life to those around her. While teaching at Lockwood she wore many hats. After retiring from education she went to work as the director of the Dade County Library in Greenfield. She dedicated the next seven years to bettering the library.

One of her greatest passions was traveling. Throughout the years she and her husband visited all 50 states, Mexico and Canada.

Mrs. Hackney always had a passion for music. She was involved in choir throughout her school days and was the biggest supporter for her husband and daughters’ musical ventures. She always enjoyed playing the piano and singing at church.