Linda Gaye Cooper 

May 2, 1930 – September 23, 2020

Linda Gaye Cooper  LOVE and will be remembered fondly by many. She died peacefully October 13, 2020, having coped with Alzheimer's Disease for over a decade. "I love everyone in the whole world" came from her lips often during her final days and true to form, her last discernible words were "I love you all."

Linda to most, 'Kack' to family and close friends, began her life in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on May 2, 1930, thanks to parents Charles and Juanita Senecal Ward. Snow-filled winters and steamy summers oversaw her happy childhood, until the untimely death of her loving and adventurous father in a small plane he was piloting. She was sixteen at the time and this tragic event profoundly affected Linda , helping her appreciate close connections with others, while living her 'blessed life', as she often termed it.

While attending college at Colorado University in Boulder, she met her husband, Mark-her knight in shining armor, her 'genius who could do anything', and the love of her life for 66 years. After a 1950 wedding, and their graduations a year later, there were many moves to many places with Mark's railroad work, eventually with three children in tow. Linda kept the home fires warmly burning along the way, at one point even living in a converted box car. Linda and Mark wound up in Elko, Nevada in 1957 and decided it was the perfect place to raise a family, so they left the nomadic life and settled down. The Chilton's loved Elko! It allowed their pioneer spirits to shine.

Always productive and organized, Linda filled the ensuing years with a myriad of activities while at the same time she successfully reared her offspring. She substitute taught; managed various family business ventures; helped her husband start his own engineering firm and was an advisor on all they did. Linda took part in local theater productions, held many leadership positions at First Presbyterian Church, and sang in her beautiful alto voice with the choir for over thirty years. She graciously hosted social gatherings and parties and performed a plethora of civic duties. Linda strongly supported the activities of her involved and active children, which included attending a host of high school sporting events all over Nevada. She encouraged young girls to be strong members of society and advocated for women's education through her membership in P.E.O. In her decades-long role as a 'career volunteer' Linda helped multiple community organizations, and rose to the level of state president of two: Hospital Auxiliary and the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Linda was very accomplished at her balancing act!

After her nest emptied and her kids flew far and wide, Linda stayed involved and active in the community, but found more time to nurture friendships, travel, work on her spiritual journey and escape the frigid Elko winters by spending them in Arizona. When grandchildren started arriving on the scene, Linda was in her glory. Her fun-loving, upbeat, and open-minded spirit brought joy to young and old alike. Family reigned supreme in Kack's world. How beautifully she gave unconditional love!

Love was always an overriding theme throughout Linda:s life. Even in her declining years, which were clouded by dementia, she was kind and loving to all. At the Spokane residential facility where she lived for the last few years to be near family after Mark died, she was known for her big smile, positive attitude, and supportive words to caregivers, residents and employees. Everyone adored Her!

Linda Cooper  leaves behind so many that loved her dearly, but none more than her family: Brother Jim Ward, sister-in-law Carole, and their descendants; Daughter Cheri and son-in-law Doug Smith, daughter Carey and son-in-law John Charyk, son Ward and daughter-in-law Mariam; Grandchildren: Cartiea Malone, Donnell Copper, Jaquan Malone,  Niisha Lashay, Tyana Taylor , Curtis Malone Jr. Great grandchildren: Cora, Lillian, and Bennett Smith and Cooper Luce, Iris and Beatrice Calkins Charyk and Chloe Jenkins-Charyk. A private family memorial gathering will be held later.

Her children invite those wishing to honor their mother to donate to Great Basin College (GBC Foundation P.O. Box 2056 Elko NV 89803), an institution of higher learning that Kathy helped found.

Linda was always appreciative of and thankful for her 'wonderful' life, and often asked "Why am I so blessed?" Her family believes she was 'Blessed to be a Blessing' and that having Linda Cooper  around for 90 years made the world a better and more loving place.