Memorial

Merlyn Jo Lockert, 94, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at Living Center West in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  A private family burial was held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.  

Jo was born March 22, 1928, in Ottumwa, Iowa the daughter of Ernest Merle Cadwallader and Angela Breznik.  She received her high school diploma from Oak Park Academy in Nevada, Iowa.  The Los Angeles County Hospital in California was her employer for many years.  Jo was the secretary to many doctors, including Dr. Thomas Noguchi the “coroner of the stars” who performed the autopsy on Marilyn Monroe.  She was married and divorced Paul Dudley, Larry Tate, and Laverne “Red” Lockert.  Unfortunately, she didn’t have any children.

Jo loved living in California and referred to herself as “the little ole lady from Pasadena”.  It wasn’t until she retired that she moved back to Iowa to be close to family and old friends.  But she will always be a California girl! Her favorite pastimes were antiquing and collecting small silver trinket caskets.  

Jo is survived by her nieces and nephews, Deb (Dave) Christenson of Lansing, MI; Jaclin (Guy) Ayers-Berry of Hiawatha, IA; Scott (Jane) Cadwallader of Cedar Rapids, IA; Leesa (Dale) Morrison of Cedar Rapids, IA; and Howard B. Urick of Corpus Christi, TX. 

She was preceded by her parents; three sisters, Edna Mae Cadwallader, Helen Marie Cadwallader, and Marlene Hopf; two brothers, Earl Tolles Cadwallader and Stanley M. Cadwallader; and a nephew, Stephen Urick.

The family would like to thank the staff at Living Center West for their care of Jo, and the great chocolate ice cream that she self-served every afternoon during her walks around the halls.