Linda H McPherson

Linda passed - as prayed for - peacefully at home with John, her boyfriend of 5 years and husband of 64 years, at her side, in the evening of April 28th. She bravely and tirelessly combated, with her outstanding medical team, Lupus for 26 years, Congestive Heart Failure for 16 years and other medical problems related to both. She and her medical team beat her odds of life expectancy by a substantial margin!

Linda was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina to Jim and Agnus Hayes February 21st.1942 and joined her 10year old sister Betty. Her family moved to Greenville, SC in 1948 where she attended public schools, met John in the 10th grade, graduated from Greenville Senior High in 1960 and attended Furman University until their marriage on August 24th,1962.

They made their first home in married student housing at Clemson University while John finished his engineering education. Linda, a National Honor Society/Dean's List Student, surprised/shocked both families by announcing before marriage that she was through with school for the time being and wanted to be a working wife. She acquired a job working for Clemson's Purchasing Manager until she decided that she was ready to become an at home mother! Scott was born January 9th,1964 in the Anderson Hospital, about 20 miles from Clemson.

John finished Clemson in 1965 and went to work for Exxon in their Southeastern Region office in Charlotte. They completed their family in Charlotte with the births of Brian 7/4/66, Joy 1/11/68 and Jim 9/16/69.

They made their second of seven moves to Exxon USA Headquarters in Houston (Oak Ridge North) in January '70, followed by moves beginning in April '72 to Charleston, Raleigh, Randolph NJ, and Trumbull Ct. They returned to Houston Headquarters (The Woodlands) in August of '83 where they resided in the same home for 43 years.

Linda loved people and was very active in their churches, the school systems and neighborhoods in each of their locations. Except for New Jersey and Connecticut, they had the first or second occupied home in the immediate neighborhood and she was the self-appointed "Welcome Wagon" - delivering a treat and offering local information and friendship. In New Jersey and Connecticut, they bought in established neighborhoods, so Linda was on the receiving end of a welcome!

Linda developed many lasting friendships through the years beginning with grade school, and only their deaths separated them! She was still exchanging some level of communication (Christmas/birthday cards/notes/phone calls) with around 50 out of state friends!

Linda was preceded in death by the "too early" deaths of daughter Joy and daughter-in-law Carol (early 40's), grandson Trevor (late 20's), sister and sister-in-law (early 50's), and father and father-in-law (early 60's). Her mother and mother-in-law spent their last years - in different time frames between 1989 and 2009 - with Linda and John. She kept them active with their interests - which included eating out, site seeing and shopping...and other exercise within their capabilities!

Linda is survived by her deceased daughter's family, Dr. Matt Brown (Jenn); her sons Scott (Susie), Brian (Leslie), Jim (Kristi) and their families. To-date, these families have produced 5 Grandsons (one deceased), 4 Granddaughters 1 Great Grandson and 3 Great Granddaughters...with a 4th due in October!

Because they spent the majority of their married life 1000 miles or so from their parents, Linda felt so Blessed that their Grandchildren were raised here and no further away than the greater Dallas area! Currently the grandchildren range in age from "thirty something" to nine...a long and wonderfully Blessed "Grand Ride"!

Well Done You Good and Faithful Servant and friend, now experiencing your Ultimate Reward!

Linda requested that attendees wear church casual bright clothing!

In lieu of flowers, Linda requested a memorial gift to First Baptist The Woodlands or to the cause of your choosing.