Ena Lockhart

Ena Bee Tutt Collett Lockhart, 91, went home with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. A visitation will be held from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, Sunday, April 17, 2022, at Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 Hwy 277 South. A funeral service will be held at 12:00pm, on Monday, April 18, 2022, at Elmwood Funeral Home with Dr. Robert Wingrove officiating. Interment will follow in the Abilene City Cemetery, 1133 Cottonwood St Abilene, TX 79604. Serving as pallbearers will be Jason Collett, Tanner Collett, Adam Burks, Robert Brown, Kenneth Hooper and John Wingrove.

Ena Bee Lockhart was born May 5, 1930, in Foreman, Arkansas to William (Bill) and Vassie (Roberds) Tutt. She was one of five children born to the Tutt's and was one of four daughters and a son. Known as Grandma Bee to many.

The Tutt's moved to Taylor County shortly after her birth and spent most of their early years trying to squeak out a living on dry land farms around Taylor County. Mr. Tutt was also a windmill mechanic and was known throughout the area as Daddy Bill.

Ena Bee was a bright and intelligent student and garnered the highest GPA in the fifth grade which allowed her to be promoted to the seventh grade, skipping the sixth grade all together. All this while being taken out of class during cotton picking season to assist in the harvest.

Ena grew up around the livestock auctions and at an early age left the cotton fields and began working at the auction house cafe. It was there she met the young man who would become her husband and father of her five children. She married Wendell Collett on May 28,1949 in Abilene, Texas. They raised four of their five children around rodeos and hard work. To that union was born sons Danny and Gregg and three daughters Barbara, Norma and Melba. Norma died shortly after birth, but was always very much a part of the family unit.

Ena quit school before graduating high school, to help support the family and after marrying had little time for education. However, once the children were all in school she worked and received her GED at the age of 40. In 1975 she enrolled in classes at Abilene Christian College and proceeded taking classes through 1978 receiving her Associates Degree.

While attending college she worked as a dietician for the Abilene school district and was the President of the Cafeteria Organization. Ena retired from the Abilene ISD lunchroom program, but not from work. She went to work as head Dietician for Abilene MHMR until her retirement in 1996. She was a member of Ft. Phantom Baptist Church for over 30 years.

Mr. Collett preceded her in death on April 7, 1991, and she remained single until April 9, 1995 when she married Walter (Dub) Lockhart, a longtime friend of the family. Lockhart preceded her in death on July 10, 2019.

Ena Bee is preceded in death by two husbands, one daughter, one brother, two sisters and a daughter-in-law.

She is survived by children, Michael Dan (Danny) Collett and wife Wanda ; Wendell Gregg Collett and wife Heidi, Melba Hurd and husband Ray all of Abilene and daughter Barbara Wingrove and husband Robert of Stamford. She is also survived by a sister, Mary Bryan of Minden, La; 16 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.