Linda Carol Evans

Born to parents Forrest Eugene McCormick and Anita Jane (Donovan) McCormick on September 27, 1948, in Hutchinson, Kansas, Linda, age 76, peacefully passed away in her sleep on Saturday morning, January 4, 2025 at her residence.

Linda attended elementary schools located in Medicine Lodge, Kansas and Vancouver, Washington. She was a member of the High School Class of 1966 at Enid, Oklahoma. After earning a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the Phillips University in Enid, on May 20, 1970, she taught music in two rural districts in Kansas before attaining a full-time music teaching position with the Minooka Grade Schools in Illinois. She retired from teaching in 1991.

Linda married her first husband, Raymond James Mackey on July 10, 1982. They made their home in Joliet prior to retiring to Edmond, Oklahoma in 1991. Jim preceded her in death on April 28, 1997.

After her retirement, Linda enjoyed working in different positions - as a nanny, as a clerk in a women's dress shop, as a clerk at a local tag agency as well as a church secretary at the Santa Fe Presbyterian Church in Edmond. In 1999, Linda began working as a reservations clerk for Southwest Airlines at the Oklahoma City Call Center. After marrying her second husband, Dale T. Evans on November 4, 2000, Linda was able to transfer to the SWA Call Center at Chicago's Midway Airport. She was very proud of her ten-year employee status and was feted with other equally recognized SWA employees to a week-end long celebration at the Dallas Convention Center in 2009. As part of SWA accident preparedness, Linda gladly volunteered for and was accepted into a SWA Family Liaison corp that could be sent to any SWA disaster site to minister to family members of passengers injured in a SWA accident.

Linda practiced her faith in communities wherever she called home: at Medicine Lodge, Vancouver, Enid, Edmond and Joliet. At Joliet's Westminster Presbyterian Church, she was ordained to the Office of Deacon and Elder. She fully participated in the life of the church by sharing her musical talents through singing in the Chancel Choir and directing the Hand Bell Choir. She helped bring and foster the Stephen Ministry Program at Westminster. She cherished the sisterhood in Westminster's Presbyterian Women by leading study groups, coordinating Project Days as well as outreach through Kids Hope USA with Joliet Public Grade School District 86 Taft Elementary School.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband and brothers Bradley F, Jeffrey T, and Jon D. McCormick. She is survived by her husband, Dale T. Evans; her in-laws: Alfred N. & Teresa J. Evans and David & Susie Evans; several nieces, nephews, cousins, numerous friends and dear ones - especially the Ampofo's, the Ballard's, and her Church Family. We are truly blessed to have had the privilege of being with and enjoying Linda these many years.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until the time of service beginning at 10:30 AM on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1015 Winthrop Avenue, Joliet. Linda's cremains were interred near those of her late husband's in private services.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Westminster Presbyterian Church, or another charity of your choice.

The family sincerely appreciates the assistance lent by the City of Joliet Fire and Police Departments, the Will County Coroner's Office, and Kathy Giegerich at the Blackburn Giegerich Sonntag Funeral Home located at 1500 Black Road, Joliet, Illinois.