Linda Boyce Boyce Steward

Linda Boyce Steward, age 73, died at 11:00 pm on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center.

She was born November 17, 1937, in Cape Girardeau, to the late Charles H. “Charlie” and M. Lucile “Lucy” Green Boyce of Sikeston. She graduated from Sikeston High School in 1955 and from SMU in Dallas in 1959. After moving to Memphis, Tennessee, for her first job as Romper Room’s Miss Linda, she returned to Sikeston to marry her high school sweetheart, Fred H. Steward, Jr., on November 9, 1962.

She faithfully served and was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church. She was actively involved in Republican politics. She served her community in innumerable ways, including serving on advisory boards for the City of Sikeston, Missouri Delta Medical Center and Sikeston Public Schools. She was a willing volunteer wherever help was needed and was a friend to all.

She leaves to remember and to celebrate her life, her husband, Fred Steward; daughter, Rebecca Steward and her husband, Rob Purves of Sikeston; sons, Christopher Steward and his wife, Chesnye, and Jonathan “J.J.” Steward and his wife, Ashli, of Sikeston; sisters, Barbara Johsens of Santa Cruz, Calif., and Charlotte Craig of Gordonville; brother, Bill Boyce of Sikeston; and six grandchildren, Caroline Steward, Clark Steward, Isabella Ruth Steward, Reese Steward, Anna Purves and William Henry Steward of Sikeston. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Diane Boyce. She loved life and lived every day to its fullest as her grandchildren’s devoted and most loved “Ninna.”

Visitation will be from 5-8 pm Wednesday, May 4, at the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Thursday at the First United Methodist Church with Senior Pastor Geoff Posegate officiating. Burial will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston. Nunnelee Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers will be: Christopher Steward, Jonathan Steward, Clark Steward, Bill Boyce, Robert Purves, Bill Craig and Aaron Boyce.

Memorial contributions may be made to:

Sikeston Public Schools Foundation

1002 Virginia

Sikeston, MO 63801 or

Missouri Delta Medical Center Foundation

1008 N. Main

Sikeston, MO 63801