Linda Denny McClelland

Linda was born in Dallas, TX on July 1st, 1949, to Ira and Virgie Denny. After graduating from WW Samuell High School, she went to Henderson Valley Junior College, where she met her first husband Rick, with whom they had two daughters, Ashlee and Meredith.

Linda achieved a bachelor’s degree from Texas Woman’s University and received a Masters of Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington, where she focused on children’s play therapy. She also visited homebound seniors to provide counseling and emotional support. But it was her girls she happily built her life around - always the “room mother,” involved in their school activities, from bake sales to holiday crafts. She opened her huge heart to her daughters’ friends, cultivating a safe space for them all, offering a sympathetic ear or a much-needed hug. It is no wonder so many of their friends grieve alongside Ashlee and Meredith - from childhood and well into adulthood, Linda was everyone's Mom.

Later, her grandson Benjamin became the center of her world - nonstop playing, legos, sandbox, indulging his imagination - she was content to just be with him, watching him grow up. He was undoubtedly the greatest joy of her life until her decline.

Linda was fortunate to live a happy life able to enjoy the people, places, and things she loved. She liked going places with her many girlfriends, gardening, shopping, playing with her grandson, and visiting the Dallas Arboretum where she and her daughters formed many happy memories. She adored: cats (whether they were hers or not), her beloved Dallas Cowboys, and the El Fenix in Casa Linda, which she’d visited since she was a teenager.

It is Linda’s quirks we will all miss: She loved Christmas - ever picky about the shape of her tree and putting out cinnamon potpourri a couple months ahead of time. Not intentionally, she would also wait until Christmas Eve to wrap gifts, calling in all the troops to assist. However, even before Alzheimer’s set in, she would forget to write names on the packages, creating a chaotic scene every Christmas morning. While she calmly sat on the oversized furniture she loved, drinking yet another Diet Coke (her favorite), we would all laugh as we opened the wrong presents and made the switch to the intended recipient. All the while she’d sit unfazed imagining what kind of deals she’d find at Dillard's that weekend - no one loved a good sale more than Linda.

Linda loved chewing gum, the color red, saving newspapers to read later, musicals, getting the yard of the year in Parkdale, and Bain de Soleil for the San Tropez tan.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents Ira and Virgie Denny, and brother Garland Hogan. She is survived by her daughters, Ashlee McClelland and Meredith McClelland Freel; their spouses David Bennett and Marcus Freel; beloved grandson Benjamin Freel; sister-in-law Lena Hogan; nephew Frank Hogan; niece Deanna McFerrin-Hogan and her spouse Laura McFerrin; and multiple family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 20, from 5pm to 8pm at Grove Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park. Services will be held at Grove Hill with family officiating at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Linda’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association www.alz.org.

The family of Linda McClelland wishes to thank everyone who supported this journey.