Linda Jean McConnell

Linda was born on August 6th, 1946, in Merced. She was raised by her parents, Lucy and Robert Dovales in the Central Valley of California. She was a majorette at Le Grand High School and graduated from Los Banos High School in 1964. After graduation, she went to beauty college in Merced.

She became a successful hair stylist and independent business owner for over 30 years. She practiced her craft for a few years in San Francisco and many years in west Los Angeles.

In 1972, she met Dennis and they wed in 1974. October 5, 2022, marked 50 years together when they celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary. Together they raised three daughters, Belinda, Maureen, and Denise in Mar Vista, California. They spent several of their early retirement years living near their adult daughters in Austin, Texas and Seattle, Washington before settling back in California.

Linda was a creative person, finding different creative pursuits to express herself. One of her artistic hobbies was knitting and many of her relatives were the benefactors of her creations. The Halloween costumes she sewed her children, sometimes without patterns, were remarkable. We will miss her greatly.

Linda was predeceased by her father Robert and her brother Charles. She is survived by her mother Lucy; husband Dennis; daughters Belinda, Maureen, and Denise; grandchildren Joshua, Theodore, and Xavier; siblings Anita, Noreen, Pearl, Cathy, Fatima, Donna, Roberta and Christopher; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

There will be a memorial service February 18, 2023, at 11:00 am at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, 1494 B Street, Merced, California, 95341. The family requests that all flowers and notes are sent to Stratford Evans.

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