Linda S. Hack-Cline

On July 20, 2021, Linda S. Hack-Cline was finally given the peace she so deserved. Linda died at 6:45 a.m. at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Illinois, after a very courageous eight-year battle with cancer. She had always planned to live 105 years, but undoubtedly packed more living into her nearly 67 years than most people could in two lifetimes.

Although Linda struggled throughout her life from a difficult childhood, she managed to rise above those memories and achieve her dreams of getting married, having two daughters, and becoming a hairdresser. She had a tremendous will to live, inner strength, and a positive spirit that sustained her when most others would have given up. In spite of her early life, she always had a kind heart and soul and she possessed a quiet, unassuming wisdom; which not everyone recognized.

After winning a scholarship to beauty school, Linda also became a licensed esthetician and successful business owner. She worked for Dean Carver at Ye Copper Inn Hair Salon, then for many years was the owner of the Cost Cutters franchise in Springfield and Jacksonville. She loved fashion, jewelry, and shoes and always said she liked to “look city and act country.”

Linda was very much a country girl at heart, born November 5, 1954 in the hills of Leitchfield, Kentucky, the one place where she always felt most comfortable and at peace. At the time of her passing, Linda resided in Springfield, but during her youth lived in Texas and in Chatham,Illinois in her later years.

Linda was preceded in death by her beloved grandmother (Mamaw), Pansy Rae Oller Hack Willis, who was the source of her greatest comfort and strong feisty spirit. Also preceding her in death were her mother, Anna Ruth Kime; stepfather, Buck Buchanan; adoptive parents, Ruby and Carl Howard; foster parents, Wilmer (Bill) and Polly Brookens; and brother, Rick Hack.

Surviving are her daughters, Tawnya (Shawn) McCoy and Crystal Cline; grandchildren, Andrew Cline, Audrey McCoy, Zach (Michelle) Cline, Reese Branham, Raelynn Cline, Dillon Branham, Hannah Branham, Austin Johnson, Cameron Smith; and great- granddaughter, Lucy Cline.

Also surviving are her father, Lloyd Hack of Leitchfield, Kentucky; brothers, Larry (Tina) Lampton of Madisonville, Kentucky and David (Vickie) Buchanan of Texas; sister, Judy (Warren) Campagna of Cozumel, Mexico; sister-in-law, BK Hack of Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews, foster brothers and sisters; Linda’s former husband, Raymond (Leslie) Cline; former son-in-law, Mike Branham (Jamie Kieffer); former spouse, Debbie Woods; and Claudia Nash, the person who perhaps understood Linda the most.

Linda made an anatomical donation as her gift to the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine to give thanks for the excellent and compassionate care she received during the years of her illness.

A private celebration of life is being planned, and cremation will be provided at a later date.

Memorial contributions in Linda’s memory may be made to Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, 528 S. 5th St., #211, Springfield, IL 62701, the Illinois Audubon Society Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, P.O. Box 2547, Springfield, IL 62708 or the Animal Protective League, 1001 Taintor Rd., Springfield, IL 62702.