Linda Madeleine Almond

I’d like to thank all of you for coming together to celebrate Linda’s life with us. Her husband and children are deeply affected by the loss of a wife and mother.

Linda was born November 15, 1946, in Ogden, Utah, the daughter of Helen Marie Weiss and William Lloyd Allen. She attended Amarillo High School.

As a child, the family moved frequently as her father was in sales. They never stayed long enough for Linda to establish lifelong friendships. It was Linda’s wish to keep her children in one place and grow up with lifelong friends and memories, and she most definitely accomplished that, as all her children have developed those friendships continuing to this day.

Linda had many fond memories of her family in Fessenden, North Dakota, riding horses with her numerous cousins and helping out on the farm. She was an avid horsewoman back then as a child, and even gave riding lessons once grown right here in Amarillo.

Linda married Julius Huntley Almond on July 9, 1972, in Amarillo, TX; she and Huntley together had five children; daughters, Dawn Marie and husband Sean Davis, Laurel Ann and husband Jason Baker, April Betty and husband Tony Diaz, Amber Ruth and husband Dickie Gipson; and son Huntley Allen Almond; grandchildren, Ariel, Aubrey, Colby, Briella and Joab; great-grandchildren, Aurora and Elliott.

Linda and Huntley would have celebrated 50 years of marriage this July.

Mom had a challenging task with 5 children; after four girls, they had pretty much given up on having a son and then what do you know, it happened, and they were a family of seven.

Mom loved her family, and was proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her kids shared her love of animals, dogs and cats mostly, but her favorite was always horses.

Linda loved fishing with her dad when she was a little girl and did so her entire life. Sun, beach, camping, boating, mom loved the outdoors and a sunny day, with hope that the wind wouldn’t damper the adventure.

Linda was a career professional in the insurance industry for many years while maintaining a household of five children whose ages spanned across 15 years. She attended kids programs, assemblies, PTA, orchestra concerts, was a Kids Inc. coach, Girl Scout Leader, Boy Scouts Den Mother, and in time, loving Grammy to 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Linda’s happiest times were spent with her family in San Diego. Every summer she and Huntley made sure that two weeks were spent in California every year with Linda’s mother and her step-father Mel. For a family of seven, a cross country trip in a van was not an easy feat, yet Mom and Dad made it happen. For the kids, this was normal. They looked forward to it all year long. It wasn’t until they were older that they realized not every family took 2 week vacations, to Disneyland, the beach, and Grandma’s house every summer. Fond memories indeed.

Linda was also an artist, and not surprising, her favorite subject to sketch was horses. Once retired from her career in the insurance industry, she developed a love of oil painting, especially horses, and enjoyed estate sales and looking for that special find.

Gathering everyone for Sunday dinner, finding ways to get the family together and enjoying the outdoors were of utmost importance and she passed these traits on to her kids to continue on with their own families.

Linda, Mom, is already greatly missed by her husband and kids. Please pray for them for peace, that they will be with her again someday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Linda’s name to Dove Creek Equine Rescue or Gracie’s Project.