Don Locke

COOKEVILLE CHAPEL - Donald Joseph Locke, a beloved and formidable father and husband, died Tuesday, April 21, 2026. He would have been 80 on Sunday. His heart gave up on him - quite cruelly - as his heart never allowed him to give up on anyone.

Don was a jokester, a dumpster diver and a proud father of three strong daughters. He fiercely loved Teri, his bride of 60 years. At the age of 50, Don decided he must dance. He and Teri began watching videos at home to learn some moves. To watch Don and Teri dance was a thing of beauty. Love radiated between the two, delighting crowds from Shelbyville, Tennessee to Orange Beach, Alabama.

Theirs was a storybook romance. He, a young GI, sent to an Air Force base in northern Michigan during Vietnam. She was a local girl. Their love was forbidden by her parents and the Catholic priest, him being Baptist, a military man and a southerner.

Still, they built a beautiful life together. Don and Teri owned and operated Locke’s Refrigeration Services, a commercial refrigeration company in Shelbyville, Tennessee. For decades, Don patched failing equipment and became essential to many local companies.

Don could fix or build anything. A Locke family motto: if Dad can’t fix it, it’s beyond hope. Much like his attitude towards people, Don saw value where others saw trash. He always returned from the dump with more than he took, vowing to salvage said broken thing with a mere twist or tweak.

Don taught his daughters to work hard, treat the custodian or dish washer like he was the most important person in the room and to seek humor each day. He told anyone who would listen: the best man for the job is a woman.

Don will be remembered for his grit, his tender heart and his epic jokes. Have you heard the one about Lester and Edna, he’d ask every nurse he met in his final months.

Don was a stubborn man. He could have beaten a mule in a staring contest. Don cheated death three times since Dec. 28, thanks to the tremendous care of the staff at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. His family savored that extra time to say goodbye.

Don’s family knows that if love could heal, he would have lived forever.

Don is survived by his wife Teri Locke; daughters Dawn Lile (Andy Lile), Amy Callender (Andrew Callender) and Mandy Locke (Alex Granados), three grandchildren Aaron Lile (Hailey Lile), Kate Lile and Forrest Callender.

A private service will be held at a later date.

Hooper Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111. Share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.