Linda Elizabeth Haughton

She went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus on January 11, 2022. She was the only child of William and Marion Murphey Haughton. Her cousins are the Antone families: Tom, Suzanne, Joe, Lucy (deceased), Eva Antone-Ross, Margie Antone-Warren, Leslie Antone-Wilder, and Teri Antone-Paradiso. Linda was also a faithful caregiver for her dearly loved artist friend, Jim Tillotson, during his last years.

She graduated from El Paso High, received a B.A. with honors in Spanish with a French minor from Texas Western (U.T.E.P) and also earned M.A. and PhD in Spanish/French at U. of Arizona.

Post-doctoral work was at Duke U. She taught at universities in Greeley, Colorado, in El Paso (U.T.E.P) and in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Then she explored the possibility of using her academic preparation, interest in law, and love of people for a rewarding second career as a simultaneous interpreter and translator for the federal judiciary court system. She worked as an interpreter in Corpus Christi, Del Rio, and El Paso districts on a great variety of cases. She helped found an intensive month-long seminar for students preparing for national interpreter/translator certification, held at the University of Arizona. She also taught in that seminar.

In her two careers, Linda touched many lives, first in academic circles, then in the courts. She made many friends, taught students by the hundreds, and was respected by judges and lawyers.

Her calm composure helped people during tense court proceedings. She acted as a consultant for Native American interpreters in Alaska and the Southwest. Her duties included trips to Haiti to work with Haitian French. She was also a source for finding capable speakers of other major languages for district courts.

Linda was gifted in singing and playing the guitar, singing in English, Spanish, and French. She sang in church choirs and for a time performed with a professional group led by Monica Gomez.

She taught Bible classes at First Baptist and at Trinity-First United Methodist Church, where she was a faithful member. She helped start and was a regular volunteer at the Trinity-First Food Pantry, later known as Kelly Center for Hunger Relief.

Linda received excellent care from the staff at her final home, White Acres Good Samaritan of El Paso. During these last years she was never heard to complain, even when in pain. She retained a certain regalness even in confinement. Her friends are deeply grateful to her wonderful, dedicated caregiver family, Maria Lara, Claudia Beltran, and Alexis Ayala Lara. Their love sustained her.

Linda’s life is a unique, exemplary expression of what living on the Border teaches us: devotion to family, love for artistic expression, respect for personal and others’ heritage, use of humor as a tonic, and loyal service to a loving God.

A Celebration of Linda’s Life will be held at Martin Funeral Home, 128 N. Resler, on Friday, January 28, at 11:00 a.m.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com for the Haughton family.