Linda Lou Hearn

Linda Lou Hearn, age 81 of Gardner, Kansas passed away Sunday, November 5, 2023 at Morningstar Care Home in Baldwin, Kansas. Funeral services will be 1PM, Thursday, November 9, 2023 at Wilson’s Funeral Home. Interment will follow services at Olathe Memorial Cemetery.  In lieu of a visitation, a reception for friends and family will be held from 4-7PM, following cemetery services at Brooklyn Hall, 2351 N. 400th Road, Edgerton, KS 66021. Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of JCDS in care of Wilson’s, PO Box 486, Wellsville, KS 66092.

Linda Lou Hearn was born June 29, 1942 in Springfield, Missouri, the daughter of James Washington and Irene Eunice (Nelson) Watkins. Linda attended schools in Springfield and graduated from Central High School in 1960.  On November 29, 1976, she married Donald Patrick Hearn.  Linda and Don moved to Wellsville, KS shortly after they were married.  They attended the Wellsville United Methodist Church where she was baptized on May 7, 1978.  Linda and Don later moved to Olathe, KS in 1995 and then to Gardner, KS in 2015.  

Linda attended Johnson County Community College from 1987-1988 and then attended and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in social work.  Linda used her social work degree during her occupation as a Job Coach for many years.  Linda worked for the Olathe School District from 1991-1997 and then for Johnson County Developmental Supports (JCDS) in Kansas until her retirement in 2010.  She worked with countless teens and adults to help them become successful and independent employees in the jobs she helped them obtain and maintain within Olathe and the surrounding communities.  Linda retired from JCDS and spent her remaining years flower gardening, reading, writing, and spending time with her family and beloved grandchildren. 

Linda was an avid writer. While attending JCCC, she was on the newspaper staff for the Campus Ledger. Linda a staff writer and served as the Business Manager for the campus newspaper. Linda also wrote for the Tri-County Newspapers during 1988, in which she gathered and wrote the news for the Spring Hill New Era newspaper. Linda belonged to several writing clubs over the years where she enjoyed sharing the short stories she wrote and peer reviewing fellow club member's writing submissions. 

Linda is survived by her husband Don of the home; they were married almost 47 years before her passing. Additional survivors include her daughter, Patricia Dawn Enright (Bo) and their children, Ethan, Brooklyn and Lauren of Edgerton, KS; her cousin, Joyce Kaasa (Kim) of Springfield, MO and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, her son, Jeff Woods (2005), sisters: Gladys, Juanita and Wilma, and one brother, James.

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