Linda Paulette Shirley died peacefully Thursday, July 11, 2013, surrounded by her immediate family at her home in LaGrange, Ga., At 64 years old, she lived a blessed and unexpectedly productive life, all the while proudly carrying her Down syndrome banner.

A native of Spartanburg, S.C., and former resident of West Point, Ga., and Morgan City, La., she was gainfully employed in the newspaper offices at West Point, Ga./Lanett, Ala., and Morgan City, La., where she opened mail, swept floors, filled soft drink machines, inserted printed and preprinted sections of the newspaper and harassed sports editors for information on one of the loves of her life -- the New Orleans Saints.

Linda is survived by her caregivers, Jean Callaway Shirley and Steve Shirley (brother) of LaGrange, Ga., a brother and sister-in-law, Andy and Erin Shirley of Morgan City, La., and a sister and brother-in-law, Becky Shirley Hymel and Kevin Hymel of Asheville, N.C.; nieces and nephews, Dusty and Charlie Shirley of Douglasville and LaGrange, Ga., respectively, Jonathan Shirley of Harvey, La., Christopher Shirley and Allison Shirley of Morgan City, La., and Ashley Hymel Hudson and Jon Eric Hymel of Raleigh, N.C. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Doyle E. "Red" and Lucy Shirley; maternal grandparents Clarence and Gertrude Lowry; and paternal grandparents Jones and Nettie Shirley.