Kathleen Lockwood

Mama Kate, a fiercely compassionate force in this world, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2025. She was a rebel, a beauty, and a mother who dedicated her life to social justice, family, and the pursuit of wisdom. She was a pioneer with Amnesty International in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and a champion for reproductive rights, never hesitating to fight for the marginalized and oppressed. She believed in the power of community and worked tirelessly as an organizer, bringing people together to create meaningful change. She was a skilled and deeply caring labor and delivery nurse, ushering countless new lives into the world with grace and compassion. But her greatest role was that of a mother, stepmother, and grandmother, showering her family with love, wisdom, and unwavering support.

She found joy in the beauty of the natural world through music, dance, and the written word. She was a flower child during the summer of love. She was an enthusiastic adventurer, photographer, ceramicist and pickleball player. She was also a master of Tai Chi sword and a devoted Taoist practitioner, moving through life with both strength and serenity, always seeking balance in the chaos.

She leaves behind a legacy of courage, kindness, and unyielding determination. Kate is predeceased by her parents Marjorie Bansen and Robert Lockwood, and the love of her life, Leon Bechard. She is survived by her siblings Judy, Nancy, and Robert Lockwood, her sons, Nathan Lockwood and Nicholas Vandiver, Nick’s father Charlie Vandiver, stepdaughter Anna Bechard, and many beloved nieces and nephews. They will carry forward her fierce spirit and boundless love.

A celebration of her extraordinary life will be held at a later date. The family requests that any donations in her honor be made to human rights or anti-fascist organizations.

“It is the energy projected by an individual's own mind which creates his experience.” Hua Ching Ni