August 10, 2022, Mercedes Louise (Lockhart) Richarté 

Mercedes Louise (Lockhart) Richarté
June 24, 1931 – July 25, 2022
Kerman, California – Mercedes was born June 24, 1931 near Lenox, Iowa, the oldest daughter of Alice and Thomas Lockhart. Her siblings were Robert Lockhart and Mary Borland. Mercedes attended grammar school through the eighth grade in a one room country school house. She was the only one in her class. She told stories of walking or riding her horse to school in the rain, mud and snow. She attended high school in Lenox graduating in 1950. After graduation she worked at Barker Implement in Lenox. Realizing she enjoyed working in an office atmosphere she moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend secretarial school. While in Omaha she lived at the YWCA where she made several, long-lasting friends. Following secretarial school Mercedes worked for John Deere/Minneapolis Moline equipment company in Omaha. She shared an apartment with friends from the YWCA.
In 1956 she went on a trip to California with her parents and a friend. Because of the great California climate, she decided to move, and she began her career with another farm equipment manufacturer, New Holland. While there she worked as a branch secretary until 1986.
In 1960 Mercedes met Michael Richarté. They married and had a son Thomas Mark Richarté. Mike and Mercedes were married 46 years until his passing. Mercedes was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother. She is survived by her son Thomas Mark Richarté, sister Mary Borland and sister in-law Roberta Lockhart, along with many nieces and nephews. Memorial services were held at Clovis Funeral Chapel on August 3rd at 10am. She was a loving wife and mother. Family and friends were her joy.