Memorial services for Linda Maria (Humphrey) Powers will be held on Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 2:00pm at Reed-Culver Chapel with Reverend David Wiens officiating. A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 15th, 2020 from 3:00pm until 6:00pm at Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.reedculver.com
Linda Maria Powers, 62, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, passed away on Sunday, October 12, 2020 at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Linda was born on June 17, 1958 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Fort Chaffee military base, to Bobby Joe and Pearl Humphrey.
Linda was the first daughter and second child to Bob and Pearl. She was raised on a farm which always seemed to provide plenty of things to do each day. Feeding the animals in addition to household chores and a multitude of other chores rendered no reason for the Humphrey children to be bored. Pearl could always find something else to occupy their time. Linda was lucky in respect to being raised in the country. She loved riding her horse “Duchess”, enjoyed music, dancing and hanging out with her girlfriends. She was the typical 70’s teenager. She worked at the Tastee Freeze in town which was the local high school hang-out, and gave her the opportunity to earn money and visit with everyone at the same time which was a win-win opportunity for Linda. Linda never met a stranger, she always had the ability to speak to everyone and befriend many.
Although the Humphrey children were considered “Army Brats”, Linda attended most of her primary education at Sallisaw Public Schools graduating in May 1976. She then attended Northeastern State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in May 1982. Although she was extremely skilled in the business world, she always seemed to desire something else for her life…something that would encourage her to enjoy working each day.
While living in Tahlequah, Linda met and fell in love with Henry “Hank” Powers, Jr. of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. They were married on February 26, 1983 and together they built a successful business in Tahlequah. They were known by all as “the people you could trust with your auto repairs”. Linda and Hank were blessed with two daughters, Christie and Holli, who were most important in Linda’s life until her grandchildren arrived and sent Holli and Christie to the bottom of the totem pole!
In the late 80’s Linda decided to pursue her dream of becoming a nail technician. She was always blessed with small beautiful hands and perfect nails. She gave her gift of nail perfection and the best pedicures to hundreds, if not thousands, of women, men, and children of the Tahlequah community throughout her 30-year span. She was dedicated to her clients, and, if necessary, she would go to their homes, nursing homes or wherever she was in order to assist with their specific need. This was the calling she longed for, the job everyone desires, enjoying what you do, working with people you can call “friends”, and making a difference by touching someone else’s life.
As much as she gave to her community, she always strived to give twice as much to her family. After Hank passed in October 2003, Linda was determined to insure her daughters would never feel the true loss of a parent. Though small in demeanor, she always packed a powerful punch and made it noticeably clear to her girls she could be both the soft and caring mother and the enforcing dad, all rolled into one. There were times she actually sat in class with them to encourage better behavior. She was the most popular girl in school during those visits, and her daughters were the most humiliated of course, but they loved and respected her determination to make them the best that they could be. She instilled in them that education is a gift, not an inconvenience.
Linda had a love for many things besides her children and grandchildren. She loved sledding in the snow, shopping, watching good movies, fishing, and of course, her pets. She also loved to celebrate holidays, and during Halloween and the Christmas season she was known across town as the “Lady with all the cool blow-ups”!
She would spend large amounts of money to make sure she always had handfuls of candy for every child that entered her yard on Halloween. For Christmas, she always gave a gift to every family member, client, friend, and even spare gifts for less fortunate people she did not know. To say she had a giving heart is a huge understatement.
Linda was fortunate to have loved twice in her life-time. She met and remained with Rodney Brooks of Cookson, Oklahoma for the past 25 years. Together they enjoyed bingo, camping, basking at the lake, jet skiing and vacationing. Rodney has been her girls’ second dad and remained by Linda’s side throughout her battle with cancer. Through their blended family they were blessed to have two daughters, three sons, two daughters-in-law, two son-in law, and ten grandchildren.
In December 2019, Linda was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She accepted this challenge, as all other challenges in her life, with dignity and determination. Her goal was to obtain complete remission and move forward in life. Her outlook was that life is short, and to take each moment and enjoy it, for tomorrow is not guaranteed. For ten months she fought this vicious disease through chemotherapy, blood transfusions, relentless nausea and fatigue. She insisted that she maintain her independence at home and asked little from others. She faced her assassin with all her strength and will power but lost her life to this venomous disease on October 12, 2020.
Linda was preceded in death by her father, Bobby Joe Humphrey, and husband, Hank Powers.
She is survived by her companion of twenty plus years, Rodney Brooks, daughter, Christie Jolene Morgan and husband, Jeff, and their children, Jaycee Lynn Morgan and Grayson Joseph Morgan of Broken Arrow, daughter, Holli Danielle Jenkins and husband, Scott, and their son, Lucas Tyler Jenkins of Tahlequah, step-son, Jonathon Brooks and wife Danielle, and their children Carter, Madan, Conner, Lexi and Jaxon of Springdale, Arkansas, step-son, Marshall Brooks and wife, Star, and their children, Jeromy and Kourtnie of Tahlequah, Oklahoma and step-son, Nathan Brooks of Cookson, Oklahoma.
Linda is also survived by her lineal family; mother, Pearl Humphrey of Tahlequah, brother, Gwynn Humphrey of Norman, brother, Gary Humphrey and wife, Jeanie, and their children Christopher Humphrey of Norman, and Laura Anderson and husband, Jason, and daughter, Bentley Elizabeth of Yukon, sister, Susan Evans and husband, Randy, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and their children, Zachary Ferguson and daughter Adalynn Renae, and Joshua Ferguson both of Park Hill, Oklahoma. Linda also had a multitude of cousins across the U.S. and Virgin Islands.
Linda chose to be cremated and leave space for all on our precious earth. She requested her daughter, Holli, to take her on several trips leaving small parts of her in places she always wanted to see California’s Redwood Forest, New York’s Niagara Falls, and of course while there…the Statue of Liberty.
We have great faith you will enjoy your travels Linda, and may the sun always reflect the beauty of your soul upon us!
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