Linda Dianne Elam

Linda Dianne Barker Elam began her “Life’s Journey” when she was born on October 5th, 1950 and ended when she went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 10th, 2015. Linda was born in Dallas, Texas at Methodist Hospital in Oak Cliff to her Mother, Elta Valdene Reno of Slayton, Texas and her Father, Billy Ray Barker of Telephone, Texas both deceased. She is a descendant of the Barkers who settled in the area of Bastrop, Texas prior to Austin’s Colony of 300 in the 1820’s. She is survived by her Husband, Lewis Elam, and Daughter, Shannon Edgar (Husband Jason), Son, Lewis, and Son, Kyle, and Sister, Mary Millican, and grandchildren Dominic and Layla. She leaves behind a host of relatives kin to the Elam and Barker Families consisting of numerous in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews. A celebration of her life is set for Saturday, July 18th, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at North Highlands Bible Church located at 9626 Church Road, Dallas, Texas 75238. Linda attended DISD schools and became a member of the Eaglette Drill Team at Boude Storey Junior High School and later at Adamson Senior High School’s Drill Team as a Leopardette being honored as “The Best Leopardette” award her Senior year. Later, she enjoyed seeing old friends at the Adamson Reunions and sent cards and letters to various friends during her lifetime. She always looked forward to receiving and reading the monthly Adamson Alumni newsletter, “the Acorn.” Upon graduation in 1969, Linda went to work for New York Life Insurance’s Regional Office in Dallas, Texas where she continued to work with agents and policy holders administrating life insurance policies until she left to be a homemaker and raise her three children Shannon, Lewis, and Kyle. Also as MiMi the grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, great aunt, cousin, and friend she opened her home for “get togethers” to kindle and renew relationships with others to strengthen the ties that bind us as a family. Her love for genealogy and her efforts to discover all about the Elam and Barker ancestry is a testament of her accomplishments which is documented in her many collections she gathered and maintained over the years. Fifty summers ago, she had met a boy whose name was Lewis Erwin Elam Jr. while going to the Southern Oaks Apartment Complex’s swimming pool to swim and get a tan using her baby oil-iodine concoction. Lewis was the apartment complex’s lifeguard and noticed she was having some trouble putting her tanning oil on her back so he offered to help. This first meeting for them was to be memorable and they were inseparable from then on. They would date, attend the same schools, get engaged, and be married for forty-five years. On March 27, 1970 “Good Friday”, Linda married Lewis and they said their vows at the Irwindell Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. They left on their honeymoon to the Gulf of Mexico in the VW Beetle convertible Lewis had bought for Linda and taught her to drive and get her driver’s license. The Bug broke down in Waco, Texas and they spent their first night together at the Anchor Motel. Spending the next day getting the VW fixed, they finally got back on the road to Corpus Christi to see the Gulf of Mexico and sit on the beach and swim. However, they arrived late that day, so they went to the drive-in where the “Love Bug” movie was showing. All the people came up to them asking if they were part of that movie and were there to promote it with “Herbie-the VW Beetle Bug” car that was used in the movie. This was something they never forgot and would chuckle and laugh about it often. She was a loving, caring, devoted, sincere woman that always made sure her husband and children were taken care of. She also had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren Lewis Erwin “Dominic” IV and Layla Rae; and especially her nieces, and nephews. She offered the young ones much love and affection. She always made the most of holidays and birthdays as opportunities to renew and kindle the family ties. She wanted a swimming pool and she got it. This was very important when the young ones would visit and needed an activity to have fun. She wanted to travel and she did it. The Caribbean vacations to Aruba were her favorite. She saw London via a double-decker bus and travelled in Scotland. She dearly loved Switzerland. She saw Paris by boat and walked the Eiffel Tower. She visited Spain, Germany, Italy, and many places in the United States that the family spent vacations at. She has the Souvenir Spoons she collected to prove it. The kids still remember their Mom at Disneyland and Disney World. Once Lewis told Linda that he was taking her out to eat and to get ready that he was picking her up. He had already packed a travel bag for her. He drove her to DFW Airport and she kept asking if they were eating there. He told her, “Wait and see.” They boarded an American Airlines 747-Luxury Jet in 1st Class to Geneva, Switzerland. The first class service was absolutely awesome. When they arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, he took her to the L’Aeroporte Pizza Restaurant and she had the best chef made pizza in the world. Lewis had recalled that their very first date the summer of 1965 was to see a movie at the Texas Theatre on Jefferson Boulevard in Oak Cliff and later the new Pizza Inn on Hampton Road, Dallas, Texas. Lewis wanted to revisit with her their very first date; and they did. They spent the night in Geneva and returned on the next flight back to Dallas “first class” again. Lewis’ Great-Uncle Bert Kitchen had introduced him to genealogy and Linda got very interested in it. She spent much time collecting and gathering documents and pictures about the Barker and Elam Families and their related kinfolks. She used Ancestry.com, the internet forums, and the Dallas Public Library to discover and unravel many family misconceptions and mysteries. She had much pleasure doing this. This was much like her love of crossword puzzles and finding out new meanings. She was a caring Wife and Lewis knew it well. Her insights and advice were remarkable. Her companionship was unmatchable. He heeded well to what she had to say. Living in Lake Highlands for the past thirty-eight years, was a blessing to her and the Family. She had become acquainted with a little German Baptist church which was transitioning to become North Highlands Bible Church at 9626 Church Road, Dallas, Texas 75238, pastored by Kirk Johnston a recent Dallas Theological Seminary student. She was the “Good Wife” and along with Pastor Kirk, they helped Lewis come to know the Lord as his Lord and Savior, too. They were both baptized along with their children who had already been dedicated to the Lord, too. She was very happy and proud that all her children graduated high school in Lake Highlands. In her younger days, Linda would go with Lewis when he entertained and sang at clubs, parties, and the hotel circuit. She enjoyed music and had learned to play the piano while in grade school. She really loved to dance. She could really do the Push, and Lewis loved holding her and dancing the slow ones with her in his arms. She really enjoyed the Chicken Dance and would get everybody up doing it with her. There are pictures to prove it. With the kids grown and gone, she and her Husband planned for their eventual retirement. She returned to work at Behavioral Health and Lewis acquired an adjunct professorship at Eastfield College. In 2008, she was in an automobile accident that required major back surgery which limited her and she was forced to retire. She started watching and caring for her Grandson, Dominic and he became the love of her life and Grandpa Lewis’, too. The three of them were doing many things together and going places like the Dallas Aquarium, Glen Rose Dinosaur Park, movies, the circus, the zoo, school events, birthday parties, shopping, doctors, and Dom’s YMCA games just to name a few. Once Dominic’s Father, Lew, had made tuna salad for him. Dom said this is not how MiMi makes it. Linda had broad cooking knowledge and she made Dom’s food favorites like MiMi’s Scratch Mashed Potatoes. She also looked forward to her Daughter, Shannon’s weekend visits when they would go shopping and plan special meals they saw on the Food Network Channel; or found on the internet. Her meals were awesome. MiMi’s dressing and gravy, her greaseless chili, and stew were absolute winners. The way she prepared spaghetti with her meat sauce is unforgettable; and Dom’s special favorite of all “Chicken and Dumplings.” Ask Dominic. He can tell you all about MiMi’s cooking. She also enjoyed eating out; for example “Tony’s Chicken” at Enchiladas on Greenville Avenue, our recent 45th anniversary dinner at Saltgrass in Richardson, ribeyes at Texas Land & Cattle, Jake’s hamburgers, El Fenix on Wednesdays, fajitas at Pappasitos Mexican Restaurant on Central Expressway, Norma’s and the Charcoal Broiler in Oak Cliff, and breakfast at Chubby’s on Northwest Highway. Linda’s final project was the backyard garden that she spent much time preparing and growing tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, basil, rosemary, mint, and peppers of all varieties. She loved her Conestoga cannas, irises, crepe myrtles, lantanas, and rose bushes. She had Lewis going here and there getting all her materials, tools, and seedlings. The tomatoes were awesome this season and the rest is just plain beautiful and so colorful just as she said it would be. In October 2014, Linda learned that she had cancer. She and Lewis went to several doctors and she started chemotherapy in November 2014. She was courageous and heroic; “a Spartan” through all her treatments, exams, and countless tests. However, in May 2015 she developed a complication which required her to be hospitalized. She valiantly without any complaints or tears went to be with our Lord on Wednesday, June 10th, 2015. Linda will be greatly missed. Our fond, loving memory of her will always be with us. “Together in Life, Forever in Heaven” sums up her Life’s Journey well. Hallelujah, praise be to God Almighty for the Promises of the “Everlasting Life” that He has offered to us all.