BRAINERD — Lynnie Loucks had planned to “dress to impress” with her daughter on Monday, May 9, for a poker league where she is a regular player.
Instead, the event will be a tribute to his life. Loucks was the victim of a homicide on April 28 north of Brainerd.
Shawn Pittman, the creator and founder of the
Brainerd Lakes Area Poker League
, hosts “Ladies Night for Lynnie” at Jr’s No. 19 BBQ in Brainerd. It’s a free event for women who come together to celebrate Loucks’ life and love of poker.
“Lynnie was going to dress up for that night, just to dress up,” Pittman said. “(She) and her daughters were just going to wear cocktail dresses.”
He and his dealers banded together after hearing about the tragedy and thought they were wearing purple, a color used in association with domestic violence awareness, in solidarity and to raise awareness. Instead, Loucks’ family asked if the group would dress up for that night to remember the life of a fun, bubbly woman.
“The family has asked everyone, if you wish, to dress to impress,” Pittman said. “So all of our dealers are going to do their best to dress as much as possible.”
Created in 2017, the group is a way for people to come together and learn about gambling without risking losing the house, Pittman said.
“(Lynnie) has come and played for at least the last three months or so,” Pittman said. “And the last time we did a normal game, she sat at my table with her daughter and I dealt them. (We) had good conversations during the break.
With doors opening around 4 p.m. and poker starting at 6 p.m., Pittman said cookie sales at the event will be donated to the Loucks family.
“All of this money will go directly to the family,” Pittman said. “We just want as many people to come through the door and look at us and buy cookies or buy food, hang around and donate to the family.”
At the event, they will have a table set with information on domestic violence as well as a QR code for donations to the Loucks family.
Pittman said he and his volunteers created personalized poker chips for use in future games to continue raising awareness about domestic violence, long after “Ladies Night for Lynnie.”
Loucks, 43, was found dead on April 28 at a residence north of Brainerd that she shared with Michael Lowell Munger, 53. Munger was arraigned April 29 in Crow Wing County District Court on charges of second-degree murder.
A memorial service for Loucks will be held Saturday, May 14 at Heritage Church in Baxter. There will be a visitation for friends and family from 1 to 4 p.m., with service beginning at 4 p.m. Arrangements are with the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter.
Doors open for “Ladies Night for Lynnie” around 4 p.m. at Jr’s No. 19 BBQ, 302 Washington St., Brainerd – the former location of Brick House Pizza.
Poker begins at 6 p.m. and patrons are encouraged to “dress to impress” in memory of Loucks.
TIM SPEIER, editor, can be reached on Twitter
call 218-855-5859 or email
tim.speier@brainerddispatch.com
.
