2 Jan 1955 – 5 Jul 2008
4th-Great-Granddaughter of Philip Cardon and Martha Marie Tourn
3rd-Great-Granddaughter of Louis Philip Cardon and Susette Stalé
2nd-Great-Granddaughter of Joseph Samuel Cardon and Selenia Mesenile Walker
Great-Granddaughter of Joseph Elmer Cardon and Lucinda Hurst
Granddaughter of Mildred Cardon and Rollin Bingham Walker
Daughter of Gerold Lynn Walker and Dorla Jean Edna Hoover
Linda Marie Walker Freng, 53, of LaVerkin, Utah, passed away, Saturday, July 5, 2008. She was born Jan. 2, 1955, in Sacramento, Calif. Prior to moving to LaVerkin, Linda was a 20-year resident of Nevada. Linda loved life and laughter. She especially enjoyed boating, shooting, fishing and camping with her husband and family. She had a passion for music and was a self-taught pianist. Linda’s grandchildren were her pride and joy, she enjoyed spoiling them whenever possible. She was a take charge person, if there was a problem that needed to be addressed, she was ready and willing to help. Linda was employed at C-Mart as a manager and was considered a valuable asset to the company. Linda was a daughter of God who loved the Lord Jesus Christ. Dear Linda, we may not see you for a while, but we know your spirit and love is near. Our memories of you and your laughter will remain in our hearts forever. She was preceded in death by her father, Gerald Lynn Walker. Linda is survived by her husband, James; and children, Shawn A. Walker (Liliana) and Michael P. Riley (Kimberly); her mother, Dorla Jean Edna Walker; brothers, Danny L. Walker and Brian Lee Walker; sisters, Debra A. Walker and Tammie L. Tidwell (Stephen); and grandchildren, Shawn R. Walker and Sofia Marie Walker. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 11, at the LaVerkin 7th Ward, 70 South 300 West in LaVerkin. Interment will be at the Enoch City Cemetery in Enoch, Utah. Please view the Metcalf website at www.metcalfmortuary.com for obituary, condolences and full funeral listings.
LAVERKIN-1955 ~ 2008. Our beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother and friend was taken from us on July 5, 2008 in an untimely car accident. She was born January 2, 1955 in Sacramento, California and was the loved daughter of Gerald and Dorla Walker. Linda married James Thomas Freng for time on March 22, 1987 in Las Vegas, NV and was later sealed for eternity on May 5, 2007 in the St. George Temple.
She is survived by her husband James and her children Shawn Aaron Walker (Liliana) of Las Vegas, Nevada; and Michael Patrick Riley (Kimberly) of Davenport, Florida. Her mother Dorla Jean Edna Hoover Walker, brother Danny Lynn Walker, sister Debra Ann Walker of Cedar City, Utah; brother Brian Lee Walker of Pocatello, Idaho; and sister Tammie Lucinda Tidwell (Stephen) of Las Vegas, Nevada. Grandchildren; Shawn Ryan Walker and Sofia Marie Walker of Las Vegas, Nevada. She is proceeded in death by her father Gerald Lynn Walker.
Linda loved life and laughter; she especially enjoyed boating, shooting, fishing and camping with her husband and family. She had a passion for music and was a self-taught pianist. Linda’s grandchildren were her pride and joy; she enjoyed spoiling them whenever possible. She was a take charge person; if there was a problem that needed to be addressed she was ready and willing to help out. Linda was employed at C-mart as a manager, and was a valuable asset to the company.
She was a beautiful woman, loved by all who knew her and always found good in others. A daughter of God who loved the Lord Jesus Christ. Dear Linda, we may not see you for a while but we know your spirit and love is near. Our memories of you and your laughter will remain in our hearts forever.
Funeral services are being held on Friday, July 11, 2008, 11:00 a.m. at the LaVerkin 7th Ward, 70 S. 300 W., LaVerkin, Utah. Visitations will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2008, from 6-8 p.m. at the Metcalf Mortuary Chapel, 288 W. St. George Blvd. St. George, Utah and again on Friday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the chapel in LaVerkin prior to services. Interment will be Enoch City Cemetery, Enoch, Utah. Please view the Metcalf website at www.metcalfmortuary.com for obituary, condolences and full funeral listings.
Life Sketch of Linda Marie Walker Freng
11 July 2008
Written by her cousin Trena Lea Robinson Cambron. Read by Trena at Linda’s funeral service.
Gone From My Sight
I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship spreads her white sails to the morning breeze
And starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length,
She hangs like a speck of white cloud
Just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says:
“There she is gone!” “Gone where?”
Gone from my sight. That is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull and spar
As she was when she left my side
And she is just as able to bear her load of living freight
To her destined port.
The diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at my side
Says, “There, she is gone”
There are other eyes watching her coming,
And other voices ready to take up the glad shout,
“Here she comes!”
And that is dying.By Henry VanDyke
Linda Marie Walker was sent to her earthly home on 2 January 1955. Her parents kind, were Dorla and Lynn Walker. Linda was the first of 5 children, Danny, Brian, Tammie and Debra.
When I think of Linda, I think of someone who was kind, loving, determined, and not afraid to try anything.
Linda loved her family. She loved her husband, Jim. She loved her son, Shawn and Patrick and their wives, Liliana and Kimberly. She loved her grandchildren, Little Shawn, and Sofia. She was so proud of Little Shawn. But she barely got to know Sofia, since she was only born in February. She loved her parents and brothers and sisters. When Linda and Jim decided to move from Las Vegas to Utah, she told me she wanted to be nearer her mother to help as she was getting older and might need assistance.
Linda made every holiday special for her children. Shawn remembers that even years when money was scarce, the Christmas tree was still surrounded with piles of brightly colored packages to be opened (even if they were only filled with new socks and underwear). Christmases were wonderful, but Thanksgiving and Easter were no different… all the holidays were celebrated and included food and laughter; this made a lasting impression on her children. Shawn has carried on the tradition with his own family, and in this way Linda’s influence will be carried on for generations to come.
Patrick remembers his visits to Linda each summer filled her with happiness: which in turn would make him happy. If she saw he needed clothes when he visited, she would buy him clothes or shoes. When he was older and married, Linda’s visits would always include a refrigerator inspection, if she felt he was lacking in food (which was probably every time) she would make a trip to the market to fill it. She could not bear to see him wanting for the food. The visit would always include a trip to a favorite buffet, where they were able to laugh and enjoy on another’s company. Linda loved her children and would try to help them in any way she could.
Linda loved music. She taught herself to play the piano. She loved playing the piano and singing and playing instruments. My Aunt Dorla said, “Linda would enter the door after school, drop her books and heard straight for the piano.” She was determined to play and enjoyed doing so her entire life. One of the songs she left embedded in the heads of her siblings was Fur Elise; this she practiced over, and over and over… trying to master the difficult parts that challenged her.
I remember participating in a Mutual talent show where we played a piano duet. We were not quite together. We shared the same piano bend. I finished the piece and stood up to bow. Well, Linda had to have the last note… and three more notes she played.
She played the clarinet; I played the violin and drums. Every morning her dad would come to my house and then stop down the street to pick up a friend so we could go to band or orchestra practice. I think it was something like 6:30 a.m.
One year we played in the Modesto Community Band, or MoBand as it has come to be known. It is a band comprised of community members. Each Summer we would rehearse twice a week then on Fridays give a concert in the park. At the time it wasn’t the fashionable thing, sometimes it would only be our parents and families in the audience, but we thought we were hot stuff (now it is the hottest thing to do on a Thursday evening).
Linda loved to sing… We would sing together for hours. She had a beautiful voice. Most often she would sing the alto and I would sing the soprano.
Linda loved to sew. In preparation for high school we sewed the same patterns so we could have “sorta” matching dresses. Those were the day you wore dresses to school. Her sister Tammie recalls that Linda sewed school clothes for her and her sister Debra when they moved to Big River, California. They were so proud of the clothes, they wore their matching dresses for school pictures. Linda’s motto with everything she did… “any job worth doing was worth doing right”… Tammie remembers she always finished her seam beautifully. This was something Tammie developed when she learned to sew because she was impressed with the quality of sewing that Linda did; she wanted to sew as well as her older sister.
Linda loved boating. When they lived in Las Vegas she and Jim bought a boat. They were so proud of it. It needed new seat covers and out came the sewing machine and away she went sewing those new seat covers. She even put in piping.
She would call me and tell me of spending time at the lake relaxing and just being…
When we were young our grandparents had a boat. They would take us to the reservoir. I wonder if this is where she learned to love boating…
Linda loved the outdoors. I think she learned to love them as a child. Her parents were always going on outings. They would pack a picnic lunch and away they would go… sometimes to the mountains, sometimes to special spots.
When she was in Big River, she started tubing down the Colorado River. She loved this. As teenagers someone would drop us off up river with our truck inner tubes. We then would just float the seven miles to the Big River Beach. It was the best. Shawn recalls this as a fairly frequent event for her that did not end when she moved from Big River. She and Jim made several trips back to Big River to visit friends and enjoy the river from inside an inner-tube.
She wasn’t afraid to try anything. In her late teens and early twenties, Linda learned how to operate heavy equipment. She could operate a back-hoe, water truck, trencher, boom truck, bobcat, motor-grader and probably anything you could put in front of her.
I used to tell Linda she was like a little bulldog. Linda was not one to be messed with, especially when it came to her family. Even after Shawn was an adult and large in stature, his mother was called upon many times to be the heavy… to take care of matters which required someone that would not take no for an answer or to take care of an injustice that had occurred.
Linda came to the aid of her family many times while she lived in Las Vegas. She spent many hours helping Tammie convert their garage so they would have additional living space in their small home to accommodate their large family.
Linda loved her nieces and nephews. She would drive her niece Shellie to her doctor appointments on the other side of town because they didn’t have a vehicle. She developed a strong attachment to Shellie because of this, and was broken hearted when she passed away. Any trip made to Cedar City, included a stop at the Santa Clara Cemetery to visit Shellie’s gravesite, she always left something special beside the headstone.
Linda was a hard worker. She was a very loyal employee. It didn’t matter what job she had, she put her all into it. Shawn told us that he learned the value of hard work from his mother. We wanted them to come to CA again to visit us. She would always say she couldn’t leave her store. As recently as Thanksgiving we had planned them coming to visit. I was excited about sharing the things we did during the holidays. But at the last minute she said she couldn’t leave the store.
One year we visited them between Christmas and New Years. One night at about 1:30 AM my cell phone started ringing. I answered it and I heard Linda’s voice saying, “Look out your window.” I thought she was out there or something. I looked and it was snowing in Las Vegas. She wanted us to see the magic. It was really cool.
Linda grew up knowing the truths of the gospel. Somewhere along the life’s journey, she took a detour. She never quit believing. She just lost her way. She was surrounded by people who loved the gospel. She watched Tammie and Steve and the influence the gospel had in their lives. She felt the gospel as it enfolded Tammie and Steve at Shellie’s death. Her heart started yearning. May conversations were had concerning the gospel and her desire to return to church.
She took a leap of faith and went back to church. She wanted Jim to know the truths also. She started surrounding herself in things that were lovely and of good report and praiseworthy. Jim started to research the gospel. He asked Steve and Tammie questions, he asked Roger questions. Jim had a heart attack, and started to questions his mortality. Then serious study started happening. And he was baptized.
Linda loved the missionaries. And they loved her. During the summer of 2004, I was working in San Bernadino and had the opportunity to go to Las Vegas to visit them several times. I would take my friend Debbie with me. She grew to love Linda and Jim. Debbie is a non-member. But each time we would visit, the “missionaries” would always show up. It looked like a set-up but it wasn’t.
When I told Debbie of her death, she sent me this e-mail that I would like to share. “The time I spent with Jim and Linda was special and brought me closer to God. I will always remember how warm and loving they were to me, and how welcomed they made me feel in their home.”
The last time I was with Linda was in May of last year. She finally got one of her heart’s desires. She and Jim were sealed as eternal companions. This day was special to me because it is my wedding anniversary date. She was radiant. I am glad we got to share in her joy.
Linda’s niece, Stephanie, is serving the Lord in Chile, when notified of Linda’s death she sent this e-mail to her mother. I would like to share it with you…
I often think about the day she and Jim were sealed, that was such a special moment. They have taught me so much and inspired me here on the mission, miracles happen. This week I found a scripture that I want to share. 3 Nephi 22:7-9
She loved her ward. And from where I stood looking in, they loved her. I know that sometimes it was hard for her to attend, but she still loved her ward family. You know when you become a member of the church you also become a member of a Family, a ward Family. I am sure she will be missed by her Ward family.
And Linda loved me. I have to thank her for being there to help my brother Mark. Sometimes she would enable him, and I could have strangled her, but her heart was in the right place. She tried to be there. I know sometimes it was heard for her to make the time but she tried. And I will never forget.
We never dreamed of Linda not being here. Her sister Tammie said she was the glue that held everything together. We are not sad for Linda. We are sad for ourselves, we are sad for her husband, her mother, her sons, her grand children, and brothers and sisters. I have watched the psychic John Edwards Crossing Over, and he says to appreciate the ones you love while they are here… This is the lesson that I have learned. It is the lesson Linda taught me.
These are the lessons Linda has taught us.
A friend sent me this e-mail sometime ago, and as I was preparing this life sketch it reminded me of Linda. She was the type of person that this describes all rolled into one package.
When I was little, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend. Linda was my best friend growing up. But then I started to become a woman and then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up, God would show you the best in many friends.
One friend’s best is needed when you’re going through things with your children. Another friend’s best is needed when you’re going through things with your mom. Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.
One friend will say let’s pray together, another let’s cry together, another let’s fight together, another let’s walk away together. One friend will meet your spiritual need; another, your shoe fetish; another, your love for movies; another will be with you in your season of confusion; another will be your clarifier, another, the wind beneath your wings.
But whatever their assignment in your life, or whatever the occasion, or whatever the day or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself… those are your friends.
It may all be wrapped up in one woman, but for many it’s wrapped up in several; on from 7th grade, one from high school; several from the college years; a couple from old jobs; several from church; on some days your mother; on others your sisters; and on some days it’s the one that you needed just for that day or week that you needed someone with a fresh perspective; or the one who didn’t know all your baggage; or the one who would just listen without judging… those are good girlfriends’ best.
I thank my girlfriends, and especially Linda, those who honor intimacy, those who hold trust, and those who hold me up when life is just too heavy! The special bond we share is unique.
Thanks for the words we’ve shared. The prayers we’ve sent up. The songs we’ve sang, the music we’ve played, the laughed, the tears, the phone calls, the emails, the shopping, the movies, the lunches, the dinners, the talking, talking and the listening, and just listening.
So Linda, I thank you! Thank you so much for being there, I love you! I will miss you. We all will miss you!
Enoch City Cemetery, Enoch, Iron, Utah
