Well into his 80s, attorney Charlie Lokey was determined to show up for work every day — foul weather or not.

For more than 50 years, Mr. Lokey's commitment to his clients was a marvel to those who knew him.

Family photo (ENLARGE)

Charlie Lokey (back, center) practiced law in Atlanta.

"He loved the law, and even on days when it would be iced over and nobody else went to work, he'd go to work," said his wife of 55 years, Martha Duke Lokey of Atlanta. "Even if it meant battling the elements like crazy, he was determined to get into the office. Even if all the lights were out and the gas was off, he went into the office. Anything he did, he did to perfection, to the nth degree."

"Charlie's work ethic was amazing," said his colleague Mel Mobley of Atlanta.

The minute he arrived at work, Mr. Lokey would read through new cases, take detailed notes and log them in notebooks.

"He was beyond organized," Mr. Mobley said, "and he had the kind of work ethic that's hard to find anymore. I think a lot of World War II veterans had it, and he exemplified that."

Charles Montgomery Lokey Sr., 93, of Atlanta died Saturday at Emory University Hospital of complications from a fall. The body was cremated. The memorial service is 11 a.m. today at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Cremation Society of the South, Marietta is in charge of arrangements.

The Atlanta native was so attached to his hometown, it shaped his career. He graduated from Boys High School, earned a degree in chemical engineering from Georgia Tech in 1936 and commanded a Navy ammunition ship in the South Pacific during World War II.

"He grew up on 14th Street and loved Atlanta and knew more about Atlanta than anybody I've ever known," his wife said. "He was determined he would never leave Atlanta after five years in the Navy, and he thought his chemical engineering degree would take him to other cities."

Instead he earned a law degree from the University of Georgia, and he joined his late brother, Hamilton Lokey, at Lokey and Bowden in 1946. He stayed with the firm — now Lokey, Mobley and Doyle LLP — until 2002 and specialized in insurance, wills and estates.

"He was just extraordinarily tenacious and well-prepared," Mr. Mobley said. "And at the same time, Charlie could relate very well to all kinds of people in all stations of life and knew just what to say at the right time.

"He was completely charming and graceful," Mr. Mobley said. "He had a collection of stories and jokes and would stick his head in every afternoon around 4:30 to make us all laugh and just give us a little energy for the rest of the day."

Mr. Lokey boated on Lake Rabun, pursued photography and woodworking, and made bluebird houses that he gave away to friends.

Forget about trying to park in the family's two-car garage, his wife said. "Our cars were never there because the equipment for all of his hobbies was in there."

He filled his garden with night-blooming flowers and with catnip, which he shared with fellow cat owners.

"Cats, dogs — we always had at least one or two at a time," his wife said. "He was fond of any four-legged animal. Anything that God created, he loved."

He had a soft spot for two-legged creatures as well. He collected bread for St. Luke's soup kitchen and could never walk by a homeless person without fishing a few dollars out of his pocket.

Once as he was hurrying home in the rain, Mr. Lokey passed a homeless man, turned back around and gave away his umbrella.

"Charlie had a great sensitivity to other people's needs," his wife said. "He was really a great guy."

Survivors other than his wife include a daughter, Martha Rebecca Lokey, and a son, Charles M. Lokey Jr., both of Atlanta.