Linda Keller Kirk

Linda was born in sunny West Palm Beach, Florida, on May 28, 1952, to James Lawrence Keller and Calla Rasmussen Keller. She grew up in Lake Worth, Florida, with her four siblings on her parent's dairy farm, Keller's Dairy. Linda grew up with her older sister, Joan (Joanie) Deakin, and her younger brothers, James Lawrence Keller Jr., Bryan Lee Keller, and Curtis Keller. Linda was tough and enjoyed playing football with the boys, and loved riding her horse, Honey.

Linda attended Lake Worth High School, where she met her two lifelong friends, Cyndy LaFlam Carr and Kay Humphrey Woeber, in the 9th grade, and they became inseparable. Their friendship persisted through dating, marriages, children, careers, loss of loved ones, and life in general. One of their favorite traditions was enjoying breakfast together every Sunday morning for years.

Linda, hardworking and full of energy, began working at Richard's Department store at 17-years-old in the Palm Beach Mall. While working at the department store, she met the love of her life and partner for over 50 years, James (Jim) Edward Kirk Sr. Linda fell for Jim and quickly conspired to land her man. One evening when both Jim and Linda were working the same shift, she asked him for a ride home in his white 69' Dodge Charger. As she was giving him turn-by-turn directions, she led him past her house and straight to John Prince Park, and there began their loving relationship. Jim and Linda dated for five years before he popped the question, and she enthusiastically agreed.

Linda was known for her love of entertaining and celebrations. The couple threw many outrageous Halloween parties and gatherings for their friends. Her loving spouse tells of how Linda was always "laughing and smiling, she was electric."

Linda and Jim had three children, their first child, James (Jimmy) Edward Kirk Jr., followed by Kelly Lynn Kirk (Lockhart), then finally, their youngest, Lynsey Kristin Kirk. They raised their family in West Palm Beach, Florida, enjoying the company of their family and friends. Growing up with Linda as our mother was a blessing. She worked tirelessly, day and night, to ensure that our family was always happy, healthy, and never in want. She made our house a home, warm and inviting, always going out of her way to make us comfortable and others feel welcome.

She managed to do all of this in addition to working for her father's paper, The Boynton Shopper, where she sold advertisements. With her quick wit and positive energy, Linda would dress to the nines in her four-inch heels and hit the town, making friends everywhere she went. She sold a lot of advertisements!

After the passing of Linda's father, she decided to go back to school at the age of 40. She attended classes, worked part-time, and managed her household while earning her degree to become a Registered Nurse. Linda graduated with the highest honors and went on to work for nearly two decades in nursing, sharing her love and compassion with every patient she tended to.

Linda was a loving and devoted wife to her husband for 47 years through good times and bad. Finally, after retiring, she and her spouse built their dream home in Tallahassee to live and relax. They attended FSU football games, entertained family and friends, traveled and became avid fans of FSU baseball.

Linda sincerely loved and accepted anyone her family members adored. For instance, she loved her son-in-law, Dennis Louis Lockhart, who married Kelly, as if he were her own son. She routinely teased him about his lack of smiles in photographs, laughed at his jokes, and most importantly, cherished the love he shows her daughter. She respected Dennis and trusted that he would protect her daughter and take care of their family no matter what.

Additionally, Linda adored Kristi Hennes Kirk, her daughter-in-law. Linda was grateful for the love and care Kristi gave to Linda's son, Jimmy, throughout their marriage.

Linda loved her family and savored every second of being "Mimi" to her grandchildren; James, Alyssa, and Rachel Kirk, and Isabel and Drake Lockhart. She enjoyed wholeheartedly cooking for her grandchildren, giving them bear hugs, and snuggling under a cozy blanket with them. Linda was a lover of Christmas and always overdid it, not that her children or grandchildren ever minded. The Christmas holiday was always spent baking cookies, big dinners, lively music—usually Elvis Presley, who am I kidding, always Elvis Presley—but her favorite moments of the holiday, or any time for that matter, was when the whole family could be together.

Often described as the "light of every party and the glue that held everything together," Linda Keller Kirk will be deeply missed by her family and friends. If you would like to honor Linda, a celebration of her life will be held at 12:00 p.m. on April 16, 2022, at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home at 1737 Riggins Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308.