Linda Wakefield || Obituary

Photo: Submitted

Linda Wakefield, 49, passed away at Paris Regional on August 6, 2022. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at Our Lady Of Victory Catholic Church. Visitation will be at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 23, 2022, in Fry-Gibbs Funeral Chapel with Rosary beginning at 7:00 PM. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

Linda was born April 7, 1973, in St. Paul MN. She was raised by her parents, Raymond Jensen and Kathleen Peham Jensen. Her family moved to Paris, Tx when she was 5 years old, and she quickly became a Texan… accent, boots, cowgirl hat and all. She graduated from North Lamar High School, and the LVN nursing program at PJC, and worked as a nurse in pediatric home health for several years. She married the love of her life, Christopher Wakefield, on July 7, 2002, in Paris. He preceded her in death on Dec. 4, 2019.

Linda was a loving and caring person to anyone who came into her life. She was a mother, a wife, a daughter, a grandmother, and most of all, a friend. She always did her best to be the shoulder for anyone to cry on, or to be someone’s Jiminy Cricket and give words of advice.

Linda was called home sooner than any of us would’ve liked or could’ve been prepared for. But she is free of her mortal body now and with her husband, Chris. She missed him so much and decided to stay with us for as long as possible. She fought Death tooth and nail for all those she loved. She wouldn’t want us to be sad but happy for her in her final moments and after.

Linda’s bestfriend was her mother, Kathy. Kathy was with her in her darkest of times and was her rock. When Linda needed someone to turn to, she knew that her mother would always be her number 1 supporter.

Linda was always willing to help anyone within her capabilities and sometimes beyond if the situation required. She helped so many widows or grieving spouses from around the world. She became the light for so many stuck in the dark. And she would always “adopt” any friends of her kids, and treat them like her own. But more than anyone, she loved her grandbaby the most, Lilly. Lilly was her whole world and the center of Linda’s Universe.

Linda is now a bird that has been let out of its cage. She will fly as high as the clouds and soar even higher. I know that she will be watching over us and still do everything in her power to protect us from evil. So let us not be sad but to be happy for her newly found freedom.

Linda is survived by her children John Bates, Matthew Bates, Lucas Bates, and her very special grandchild, Lilly Bates, who called her Mamma. Step-children Joey Don Goss, Tina Engstrom, and Crystal Bates. She is also survived by her parents, Ray Jensen, and Kathy Jenkins; step-parents Becky Jensenn and Ned Jenkins; mother-in-law Shirley kennemer; aunts and uncles Audrey Peham, Barry Brent, Nancy Peham, John Syper, Barbara Peham, Bob and Jan Jenkins; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Kathy and Osvaldo Coronado, Melissa and Jose Ramirez, Carol Alston, and Elvis Wakefield; nieces and nephews Leslie Delarosa, Dustin Delarosa, Stephanie Damian, Rose Cox, Esperenza Guzman, Estrella Mendez, Jose Mendez, and Ashley Jackson; and special cousins Spencer peham, Amy Syper, Jan Syper, Lynne Jenkins and Sara Jenkins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Chris; an infant son Diego Alexander Leon; father-in-law Roy Lee Kennemer; grandparents Bert and Ronnie Peham and Henry and Dorothea Jensen, and aunt, Mary Jensen.

Thank you for all the memories and good times.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com