Linda Diane Stephens

Our dear daughter and sister Linda Diane Stephens passed away suddenly December 10, 2021 in her home in Phoenix, AZ. Viewing and service will be at First AME Church, 1522 14th Avenue, Seattle starting at 10:30 AM Tuesday December 21, 2021 and stream from First AME Church’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/First-African-Methodist-Episcopal-Church-Seattle-WA-211922008893704/ (no need to login, scroll down to find live service). Contact church at 206-324-3664 for tech support.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Linda’s memory to the MLK FAME Community Center, 3201 E. Republican St. Seattle, WA 98112 (206.257-5465) www.mlkfame.com (include Linda’s name in message.)

OBITUARY

Linda Diane Stephens was born July 20, 1960 in Seattle, Washington to Victor W.

Stephens, Jr. and Frances Oxner Stephens. She adorned her eternal wings on December 10, 2021 at her home in Phoenix, Arizona. Linda was 61 years old.

Linda was baptized as an infant at First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Church in Seattle where she attended Sunday school and church service weekly until she graduated High School. Linda attended FAME Church’s inaugural day care program when she was three years old continuing through her Kindergarten year. After moving to Phoenix, she attended Tanner Chapel AME Church. Later she joined the church’s membership, but her attendance was infrequent. She always considered FAME in Seattle to be “her church” and attended whenever she was in the Seattle area on a Sunday. Since the pandemic, she participated in FAME’s service virtually, often giving a “shout out” in chat to her Seattle family. After service, Linda and her mother would discuss the Sunday service – her mother in Bellevue and Linda in Phoenix or elsewhere.

Linda attended McGilvra Elementary School in Seattle. When the family moved to Bellevue, Washington, Linda transferred to Phantom Lake Elementary School. Her education continued at Tillicum. She graduated high school in 1978 from Sammamish High School. Linda earned her BA degree in 1982 from Central Washington University (CWU).

Linda was introduced to the arts at an early age. Through her dance class, she auditioned and was cast in two Seattle Opera productions, thus earning her first paycheck at the tender age of eight. It was also during her early childhood years, joyful Linda became an avid ice skater. She was a member of an ice-skating club, took early morning lessons on a rented patch of ice, and went on to compete in regional skating competitions. She continued skating until she became a Sammamish High School cheerleader for several years. Continuing her love for putting movement to music, she danced with a local dance troupe at CWU until her graduation.

After her college graduation, Linda followed her dream to become a flight attendant - a profession that afforded her opportunities to meet celebrities and public figures. One of the most impactful of those meetings was with Mohammad Ali. In celebration of her birthday one year, she invited her family to New York to see the musical Gypsy. At some point she nicknamed herself “Gypsy” or “Gypsy of the Sky.” A free and gentle flower growing wild.

Equipped with travel benefits and a flexible schedule, Linda attended arts entertainment events all over the country, often coordinating with family and friends but she was comfortable attending alone. Though not a musician, she had a passion for music and an appreciation for many different genres, which she often expressed through dance or some form of movement. Her CD collection included straight ahead, classic and smooth jazz, pop, hip hop, classical, fusion, R & B and soul. From her collections, favorite artists included Gil Scott Heron, Earth Wind & Fire, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson and Allen Stone. Anyone who knows her knows she LOVED Prince, who she saw perform more times than she could count and who once, to her unspeakable joy, called her up on stage.

Linda enjoyed traveling with family and friends. For a brief time, she worked in Australia with Ansett Airlines. Linda and her mother and sisters enjoyed traveling to new locations. For her milestone 50th birthday, Linda successfully planned a family cruise on the Oasis of the Sea the newest and largest ship of the fleet at that time. Covid-19 caused her to change plans for her 60th celebration.

In spite of her diagnosis of MS in 2003, no one ever heard her complain of pain or vision difficulty which of course we knew she had, especially considering the recommended medication she was taking. Whenever family or friends recommended shorter working hours, she would explain that she needed the medical benefits and enjoyed her work (most days) and her traveling “Gypsy of the Sky” lifestyle with Southwest Airlines. Linda remained a flight attendant until her life on earth ended.

Beautiful Linda was a true Renaissance Woman. She enjoyed thought and politics and reading about the same. She recommended books and articles to her mother and recorded and watched “The View” faithfully. Her reading and viewing prepared her for conversations and Linda loved to talk – about anything! Anyone who spent time engaging with her, gave up a piece of their heart to her and she gave the same to them.

Linda was a cheerful person with a pleasant smile. Throughout high school, college and work, Linda gained several successful and ever lasting friendships and left a lasting impact on many. She considered herself the Godmother to her friend April Huntley’s children Brett and Paris, who Linda loved as her own. Linda attended all of Brett’s football games when he played for UCLA, even practices. She encouraged Paris in all her endeavors.

Family and friends will fondly remember Linda as an enjoyable person to be with. Linda was a Washington Rhinestone Debutante, a member of Zeta Phil Beta Sorority, Lambda Alpha Zeta Chapter. She truly enjoyed attending the Boule with her mother Frances, who remains active in the chapter. Linda usually found her way home every Christmas, often attending the Washington Rhinestone Club Debutante Ball.

This year Linda made her way to her forever home in time for Christmas. Her life will seem too short to many but for those of us who were blessed to be touched by her life, the impact she left on our hearts far exceed the quantity of time she stayed here.

Linda leaves to cherish her memory, her mother Frances Oxner Stephens of Bellevue, Washington, her sisters; Margaret Susan Stephens-Reed (Phillip) of Phoenix, AZ, and Nancy Viola Stephens-Saunders (Stillman); her great cousins, Aunt Virginia Mendenhall of Lake Elmo, MN; Wilamae Ingram of Augusta, GA; and a host of first and second cousins, special friends Grover Allen, Jeanette McCambry, April Hundley and her children Paris and Brett, beloved friends including lifelong family friends, early childhood friends which include Edye Edwards, Sherrill (Jackson) Vaughan & Leslyn (Jones) Pettit, Sammamish ’78 BSU members, Sammamish ’78 cheer squad, The Tuesday Night Women’s Group, Sista’s Be Trippin’, and so many more people with whom she forged and maintained a relationship. Linda was preceded in death by her grandparents Rev. William Oxner, Viola Perry Oxner and Sadie Stephens and her dear Father Victor W. Stephens, Jr.