Linda Payne Maddry

Linda was born on April 9, 1942 in Vicksburg, Michigan to COL (Ret) Charles J. Payne and Beverly Jean Payne.

As the daughter of a US Army officer, Linda travelled and lived abroad. Some of her fondest memories were of living in South America. She loved sharing stories of the adventures she had while living in Ecuador and Chile. Her father was assigned as the Deputy Commander for the Army Ballistic Missile Agency at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, where Linda graduated from Butler High School and went on to attend the University of Alabama.

As an adult, Linda continued her adventures and travels as the wife of COL (Ret) Ted R. Maddry. They married on April 4, 1964 in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Together, they shared 53 years of marriage, reared two children and enjoyed living throughout the United States and overseas in France, Germany and Australia.

Linda loved to read and to walk into her home was like walking into a library. She read everything, but especially enjoyed a good mystery novel. She loved sharing her joy of reading with her grandchildren. Linda was exceptionally talented in the needle arts and she created exquisite embroidery, cross stitch and crochet keepsakes for her family and friends. She played bridge, cribbage and always had word puzzles and logic problems on hand. Linda adored animals and provided a loving home to many lucky cats and dogs. She passionately cared about the welfare of all animals and supported local animal shelters and national and international humane and conservation societies.

"If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans."

James Herriot

Linda had a beautiful soul. She was a unique and special woman, with a warm heart, boundless intellect, delightful sense of humor and deep love and appreciation for flora and fauna, alike. For Valentine's Day, she desired not roses, but rose bushes, so that she could admire the rose in its beautiful entirety. Her yard was lovely and peaceful refuge for songbirds and a variety of Texas Hill County wildlife.

Linda was preceded in death by her most special Mabel "Nana" Brinkworth, who was her shining star and guiding light, and by her loving parents COL (Ret) Charles J. Payne and Beverly Jean Payne.

She is survived by her devoted and heroic husband, COL (Ret) Ted R. Maddry, her daughter, Lisa Maddry Lyons, her son, LTC Scott A. "Drew" Maddry, her son-in-law, Michael S. Lyons and daughter-in-law, Julie Maddry, her grandson, Kyle Maddry, her granddaughters, Brooke Lyons and Samantha Lyons, her sister Dr. Bette Leigh-Payne Dow and her nephew C. Jay Dow. She leaves behind her beloved cats, Shadow and Oscar, who were her constant companions to the end.

The family would like to thank Sue, Bridget and Lucinda, the compassionate caregivers of Brookdale Hospice.

A memorial service will be held at the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home at 3125 North Lamar on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 2:00 pm. A private graveside service will be held at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, her family would prefer donations be made in her memory to your favorite food bank, literacy or animal welfare charity.