THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 1996 TAG: 9604300169
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Around Town
SOURCE: Linda McNatt
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Growing up as one of seven children on a dairy farm in a rural community in central Pennsylvania, Sally Locey had three dreams: she wanted to marry her high school sweetheart, have children, and she wanted to be in a beauty contest - just for the experience.
One of those dreams had to be put on a back burner for years. Just a couple of years out of high school, Sally married Scott. The two of them took off to Florida, where one of his brothers already had settled, and Scott had a job waiting for him.
For seven years, Sally worked in a variety of jobs, in a restaurant and in a nursing home, where she was activities director. Then, the children started arriving.
Life was good, but she still wondered: what would it be like?
Recently, after all the years of waiting, she had a chance to find out.
After seeing an advertisiment for the ``Mrs. Virginia Pageant'' in a newspaper, Sally called and inquired. She was the only Isle of Wight resident who did so, so it wasn't like she had an opportunity to compete for a title locally or anything. She just kind of assumed the ``Mrs. Isle of Wight'' title. And she got the opportunity to experience her dream.
``It was something I had always wanted to do,'' she said, smiling. ``I had a month to get ready for it. I liked the idea of the pageant because they focus on the `Mrs.' not the `Miz' image. They emphasize God, family and morality. I think those kinds of things are real important in today's world.''
The Loceys moved to Virginia after living in Florida for 12 years, when they realized they didn't want to raise their three children there. They were searching for a place more like the rural community where they grew up, a safe place where a young family could be a part of things.
They didn't like the idea of moving back into snow country, Sally said. Both had brothers and sisters who had settled in Hampton Roads. They lived for a while on the Peninsula after the relocation. Then, they found what they'd been looking for when they bought a home in Waterford Oaks and settled quickly into the Isle of Wight and Smithfield community.
By this time, Sally was a stay-at-home mom. It was a decision she and her husband made before their first child was born.
``I am proud of what I am,'' she said. ``We have given up a lot of material things so I can stay at home with the children. My husband works a lot of overtime to make it possible. But I think my children are even beginning to realize what it means to have mom at home with them. I think this is the way God designed it.''
In early April, Sally went to Roanoke to the state pageant, and she had an opportunity to tell judges how important it is for her to be a wife and a mother first.
``How do you keep romance in your marriage?'' the judges asked.
Sally told them about putting love notes in her husband's lunchbox, about how she occasionally leaves notes all over the house when he's due to get home from work. The clues in the notes lead to her - hiding. The two of them, after nearly 15 years of marriage, still go out on dates.
``And we do this for each of the children,'' she said. ``They each get a chance to go somewhere with mommy and daddy. It's their special time.''
The family has a tradition in a small, stuffed rabbit known as ``Snuggle Bunny.'' Parents and children get to hide the bunny for another family member. When that person finds it, they have to hug the person who hid it. It's been a great way to encourage closeness among the children, Sally said. They are now 7, 4 and 3.
The pageant Sally participated in ``promotes married women in a way unaccustomed to pageants.''
There is no swimsuit competition. Sally competed against 37 other women in the state contest. She ended up in the top 20.
``Sally is an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, a choir member, junior high Sunday school teacher,'' the release sent out from the international pageant committee said. ``Her platform is family values.''
Mrs. Richmond, competing for the third time, will go on to represent Virginia in the national pageant, to be held in Texas in August.
Mrs. Isle of Wight liked it so much that she plans to go back next year.
``I'm married, and I'm proud of it,'' she said. ``This is a dream I've always had. I like the idea that I had an opportunity to promote my family and my community.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LINDA McNATT
Sally Locey, with her son Derek and a small, stuffed rabbit known as
``Snuggle Bunny,'' is a stay-at-home mother and Mrs. Isle of Wight.
by CNB