Lynette Lock Sorensen

Lynette Lock was born on the 1st of May 1945 in Wichita, Kansas to John and Eva May Lock. Her dad was a Seabee in the Navy as World War II was coming to an end, and he wasn’t able to see her until she was about eight months old. A short time later, the family moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where her little sister, Maridine was born.

While in Bartlesville, 4-year-old Lynette would often be found staring through her neighbor’s front screen door for hours, watching him practice on the piano. Thus began her fascination with the piano. It was at that time she began taking piano lessons herself. Little did she realize at that time that God would use the piano to not only bring joy to her own life, but to the lives of the many piano students she taught over 37 years.

One day, her mom took 5-year-old Maridine to a Good News Club because she had been very naughty. After hearing the gospel presentation, Maridine asked Jesus into her heart. Her mother was amazed at the change in Maridine’s life. After that experience, Maridine told her mom, “Mommy, we’ve got to get Lynette saved.” Perhaps that is why their mother spent over 50 years working with Child Evangelism Fellowship with a burden to give the gospel out to little children.

When Lynette was eight years old, the family moved to California where they eventually ended up in Long Beach. Lynette was excited to ride the bus to Bethany Baptist School for 5th and 6th grade. Then she attended Marshall Junior High School which was close enough to her house that she could often walk home for lunch.

While in Junior High, her family attended Olive and Hill Baptist Church where Lynette was occasionally asked to play the piano. She absolutely loved that! She would go on to graduate from Millikan High School in 1963.

While in high school she worked for the Anti-Communist Crusade as a typist, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She also was asked to accompany singers on KGER radio programs. At this point, she was attending Lakewood First Baptist Church where she was really looking forward to graduating into the college youth group.

Her mother had taught her how to hear the voice of her Shepherd, and one day as she was in her living room practicing the piano, she heard the voice of the Lord in her spirit impressing upon her to go and play the piano at another church. When she told this to her mom, her mom said that her friend from around the corner had mentioned to her that her church was looking for a new pianist. The friend gave Lynette the name and phone number of the worship leader/choir director of that church. Lynette called him and was given an appointment to audition. She was hired and her first Sunday at Los Altos Brethren Church was May 1st, 1963, her 18th birthday. Little did she know the impact that decision would have on her life.
She soon gained another “family” when she began playing for the choir. Not only was she introduced to many mature, solid believers, but she was soon asked to give many of their children piano lessons. She was so excited, and she knew it was the result of listening to her Shepherd’s voice.

Also, unaware to her was a soon-to-be 16-year-old shy boy sitting in the congregation who took special notice of this cute new piano player. But he was only a high school boy while she was getting ready to attend Biola College as a Music Major. After 2 years at Biola, Lynette realized that her passion was teaching piano lessons and decided not to return to her third-year classes, but to concentrate on growing her piano lesson business.

As time went by, that shy 16-year-old boy named Tom Sorensen, turned into an 18-year-old young man who enlisted for two years of active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. His brother, Don enlisted at the same time in the buddy system. One Sunday night in the spring of 1968, Tom, nearing the end of his enlistment, was home on weekend liberty from Camp Pendleton. His parents and sister had gone to the Sunday evening church service, but Tom stayed home. When church was over, Lynette drove Tom’s sister, Mary June home, where Mary asked her to come in as her mom was going to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Tom was in the family room watching TV. Later, Tom’s parents went to bed, and Mary June soon followed, leaving Lynette alone in the family room with Tom, who was still too shy to talk to her. Finally, she stood up and picked up some knitting that Tom’s mom had left in a basket and walked over to Tom as he sat in a big stuffed chair watching Mission Impossible and said, ”Well, if you’re not going to talk to me, I’m going to leave!” and attempted to slap him across the face with the knitting. He held up his forearm to block her attempt and grabbed her by the wrist, causing her to lose her balance (so she said) and fall into his lap. The rest is history!

On May 24th of this year, Tom and Lynette celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary. Having no children of their own, they were blessed with the most amazing and beautiful nieces and nephews whom they were able to pour their love into, including Robbie, Holly, Cari, Ryan, Lindy, and Alyssa plus all their kids, Gary, Tommy, Lynette, RJ, Ava, Chloe and Benett.

Tom and Lynette often looked back on the events of their lives and marveled at how God directed their paths to bring them together at the right time. After one year of marriage, they were able to buy their first and only house which had seen countless family parties and dinners with friends. Lynette loved being an aunt, and especially a wife! And don’t forget all the stray cats that ended up calling Tom and Lynette’s house their home! She was an awesome Cat Lady!

In 2015, she was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer and endured a brutal surgery, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, and 30 treatments of radiation over an 8-year duration. Her faith was strong, and she never gave up hope but knew that her life was in God’s hands. She knew if cancer was to end her life, she would accept it as God’s will. That gave her a new focus on Heaven and looking forward to seeing her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ face-to-face. She also knew she would be reunited with her family and friends who had made Christ their Lord and Savior.

During her final days and hours in a state of semi-unconsciousness, Tom would tell her that her body may have been worn out and ready to collapse, but her spirit was soaring with anticipation to finally “go home” where it belonged. Upon hearing this she would manage a sweet smile on her face.

During the last weeks of her life, she was blessed to have her sister, Maridine Anderlik, and her dearest friend, Sandy Stancil, to minister to both her and Tom. Maridine would get Lynette to smile as they shared stories and confessed different things they did while growing up together. Sandy, who used to play the organ with Lynette at church would do the same and spent hours singing along with the all the Maranatha Praise Albums to Lynette.

There are really not enough words to convey how special she was to all those who knew her and counted her as their friend. She loved the Lord with all her heart and will definitely be missed. Lynette is survived by her husband Tom, sister Maridine Anderlik (Jim), and her amazing nephews and nieces, Robert Kester (Sheli), Holly Brady (Mike), Cari Ray (Dave), Ryan James (Rhiannon), Lindy James, Alyssa Moran (Matthew) and all their kids, especially her sweet RJ (Lauryn).

Goodbye, Lynette . . . We’ll see you soon!

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a check made out to Calvary Chapel Downey, and in the Memo line: Caleb Constancio Israel Senior Trip. The checks can be mailed to Caleb Constancio, 8025 Brookgreen Rd., Downey, CA 90240.