Linda Lee Blackmon, 80, of Houston, TX passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 28th surrounded by her loving children and the beautiful mountains above The Wasatch Valley in Utah. She was born September 20, 1943, in Houston, TX to Edward C Blackmon and Myrtle Helene Blackmon.
In her early years south of Houston, TX, she was raised with her brothers Tom and Fred Blackmon and fraternal twin sister Barbara (Blackmon) Williams on a few acres where they learned the ethic of hard work and the virtues of resilience and faith. Between chores and long rides to school, you might catch them on the back of a billy goat as if they were Roy Rogers or Jean Arthur riding through the Wild West.
Linda’s mother, Helene, loved a good guitar riff and was a big Elvis fan which helped to spawn Linda’s love of music that would span across the decades, but rock & roll and country is what she loved most. At 20 years old she would become mother to daughter, Connie Lorraine (Peebles), and a second time at 22 to son, Steven Wayne (Peebles). This was the foundation of her life’s calling. In 1971 she married William (Bill) Charles Hoffmann, Jr., who had a daughter and son, Christine Rene (Hoffmann) Mowrey and William C Hoffmann III “Trey”. Together they would welcome Christopher Lee Hoffmann and Edgar Lawrence Britton “Britt” Hoffmann.
In true Brady Bunch/Griswold style, Bill and Linda would trek their brood across the country to see the mountains and canyons of the west and other parts of the country. Those long drives would often lead to obscure adventures and lasting memories as Linda would share her love of music. Echoes of The Eagles, Eddie Rabbit, and Barbara Mandrell would fill the cabin of that old Suburban, you would be hard pressed to find a woman more skilled on the CB radio. “Silver Lady” could spot a smoker a mile away!
Linda’s role as a dedicated wife and mother was second to none. 61 years she devoted to her children and grandchildren. She could straighten you out and make you feel like you were her only child with a whisper. She was our greatest cheerleader, defender, and friend. She was unconditional with her love and support, and each was boundless. She was also a ton of fun. While Bill was on the road working, she would shuttle her kids to football, baseball, basketball, and even soccer practices. If she wasn’t doing that, she was in the backyard with her children doing her best to scrimmage or hosing her kids off at the back door after a trek through woods and mud. She might even be inside instigating her own brand of rough housing! She might have even Uber’d some of us to wrap friends’ houses. You never knew, but she always created memories and lots of laughs.
She was also an extraordinary caretaker. When she felt called to serve family and friends in need, there was never a question asked, except, “What do you need and when?” Oftentimes, she would already know exactly what was necessary and facilitate it with no limit of time, energy, or care. Only the will to serve and solve.
All that love for family and children would soon blossom into becoming a grandmother. This, by far, was her greatest calling. She would enjoy spoiling 25 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren for a span of 41 years; more than half of her life. She could make any one of them feel like they were her one and only, even if they were all in the same room. Linda enjoyed games, books, shows, walks, and horseplay with all of them. She would write and call them, send them care packages and if they were in town, you could bet there were movies, popcorn, and candy or late night trips to Wal-Mart to stock up on junk food.
Linda was a devoted wife. She loved Bill through 50 years of marriage. They enjoyed many trips together and would always arrive or return with gifts, souvenirs and stories about things they saw and experienced. In retirement, they enjoyed every bit of time with grandchildren they could. In later years, she was a devoted and selfless caretaker for Bill despite her own health challenges. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for those she loved or needed.
Linda had an affinity for the furry as well. She is preceded in death by nearly as many dogs as she had grandchildren. Each one had her undying love and affection. She had a soft spot for the strays her children would find or convince her why they needed to take them in. Each would bond to her unlike anyone else in the family.
Above all, though, her faith in Jesus Christ was paramount. She was a true ambassador of the spirit of the law when it came to her faith. There wasn’t a person she would not help. Her legacy is, and always will be, that of service...service to her family, her friends, fellow church members, animals, and even strangers. She was the epitome of what it means to be a Christian. She knew she wasn’t perfect and she owned it. In fact, she wore it like a badge. She might go her own way once in a while, but she always chose the right. She fought for what was moral and good. She loved her family, her husband Bill, and friends with unwavering loyalty and strength.
The Roads to and from her heart are decorated with grateful souls. She gave them her all, and all they got were full hearts and hers full too. Leadership can rise from the small in stature and its example will stand the test of time and through all manner of adversity. That is what defines Linda Hoffmann at her core and the lesson she has imparted on this Earth.
Linda is preceded in death by her husband, William (Bill) C Hoffmann, Jr, her mother Helene Blackmon, her father Edward Blackmon, and brothers Thomas and Fred Blackmon.
She is survived by her sister Barbara Williams, her children, Connie Loosle, Rene Mowrey (Todd), Steven Hoffmann (DeeAnn), Trey Hoffmann (Martina), Chris Hoffmann (Kristin) and Britt Hoffmann (Cheryl); nephews Fred Blackmon Jr (Marylynn) and Kirk Blackmon; nieces Donna (Blackmon) Reed (Phil), Sheryl (Blackmon) Grant (Mark), and Deborah Williams; her grandchildren Jennifer (Loosle) Cook (Paul) , Lisa Loosle, Jonathan Loosle, Justin Loosle, Sandra Loosle, Shilah (Loosle) Waters (John), Darrell Loosle, Sean Mowrey, Erin Mowrey, Danielle (Hoffmann) Bennington (Jacob), Matthew Hoffmann (Nichole), Thorsen Hoffmann, Hannah Hoffmann, Robin Hoffmann, Benjamin Hoffmann, Allison Hoffmann, McKay Hoffmann (Clara), Madison Hoffmann, Trent Hoffmann, Savannah Hoffmann, Shae Hoffmann, Jonah Hoffmann, Charlen Hoffmann, Stella Hoffmann and Quinn Hoffmann; great-grandchildren, Jackson, Audrey, Brooklyn, Harper, Brooks, Hazel, West, and Holden.
She is also survived by her lifelong friends, Sylvia Chin and Phyllis Falco among countless others she served and befriended along the way whether at church or neighbors. She will be sorely missed by all who loved her.
Services will be held July 15th beginning at 9am with a graveside memorial at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077 followed by a funeral service at 11am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 16198 Cairnway Drive, Houston, TX 77084.
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