Our dear sweet Linda came into this world March 20, 1942, and grew up in Pampa, Texas, where her family was active in the Mary Ellen Harvester church of Christ. Linda had a strong faith when she graduated from Pampa High School in 1960 and enrolled in Abilene Christian University. She then moved with her family to Guymon, Oklahoma, and became very involved in the church and the community. She opened a rent-to-own furniture and appliance store which she operated for a number of years. After selling the store, she then sold life insurance for Globe Life Insurance in Western Oklahoma. She earned the Rookie of the Year award after her first year. She was a member of the Guymon Garden Club, of which she was district president and later in charge of the National Garden Club Convention. She also headed up the Little Miss Guymon Pageant.
In 1988, Linda moved to Oklahoma City where she met and married her husband, Larry. She worked as a petroleum secretary for both Carr Oil and JMD Properties. She spent years teaching the Bible to Asian students at OCU during her free time, and continued to communicate with several of them long after they had returned home. Linda and Larry were both very active in Quail Springs church of Christ, and later New Hope church of Christ. They loved to travel, so getting involved with international missions work was a natural fit. Linda had a special place in her heart for the Punto Fijo church of Christ in Venezuela. She convinced the church elders to sponsor the Venezuelan church, and subsequently became administrator of funds for that mission. After traveling many places, both for pleasure and for missions work, Linda and Larry eventually moved to La Garita, Costa Rica, in December 2016. They made wonderful friends from many countries, living there for 5 ½ years before returning to Oklahoma City so they could actively participate in the lives of their grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Linda left this life on July 23, 2024. It was a life spent serving Jesus in many ways. While our hearts mourn the loss, we take comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering and is with Him now.
Linda is survived by her husband, Larry; four children, Lesa Hatfield and husband Glen, Kari Mulligan, Brad Smith, and Russell Smith; five grandchildren, Brooklyn Miles, Colton Hatfield, Haley Albert, Holly Russell and Spencer Hatfield; thirteen great-grandchildren; and six cousins, all of whom she considered sisters, Vicky Jones, Gayla Peeples, Karen Burnette, Teresa Erdman, Shirley Branch and Judy Eppison.
Services will be held at 3:00 pm on August 11, 2024, at New Hope church of Christ (700 W 2nd St, Edmond, OK 73003
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