Linda McKnight Thomason

Funeral services for Linda McKnight Thomason, 74, of Lufkin, will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 14, 2016 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel with Brother James Slack and Brother John Havard officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park, with Brother Tim Henderson officiating.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mrs. Thomason (Linda Nell McKnight) was born January 30, 1942 in Houston, Texas, the daughter of Thomas Nelson and Mabelyne McKnight. She passed away Saturday, September 10, 2016 at her residence.

Linda is survived by her husband of 36 years, Windell E. Thomason; her mother, Mabelyne McKnight; her brother, Thomas Nelson; her sister-in-law, Mimi McKnight of Austin; her mother-in-law, Dorothy Thomason of Lufkin; brother-in-law, Milton Thomason of Houston; step-sons and spouses, Wade and Nita Thomason of Huntsville and Wes and Dru Thomason of Hudson; grandchildren, Jennifer Thomason, Erica Thomason, Adam Thomason, Rebekah Thomason, Marcy Thomason, Ty Thomason, and Alyssa Thomason; three great-grandchildren, several very close cousins including her sister cousin, Mona Wood of Houston; numerous nieces and nephews, many friends; and special friend Carol Byrd.

Linda was a 1960 graduate of Milby High School in Houston and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Houston at Clear Lake in 1983. She worked at Memorial Southeast and Memorial Southwest Hospitals in Houston as Administrative Medical Staff Secretary until 1983 when her health started failing. She was president for Texas Society for Medical Staff Services in 1980-81.

Linda was a member of Central Church of Christ and resided in Lufkin for nearly 30 years.

Linda was born with a congenital heart defect (hole in her septum) which could not be repaired. By the time technology was repairing these defects, her lungs were damaged because of low oxygen. Low oxygen plagued her for the rest of her life, but she tried not to let it slow her down. Her parents were told in the 1950’s she would not make it out of her teens; but God had other plans for her, and Linda has been an inspiration to countless people over the years. She had an incredible will to live to serve her Lord. She was always surrounded by people that loved her and excellent doctors and caretakers. She loved life and people. Her love and faith in God never wavered.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Linda McKnight Thomason Nursing Scholarship Foundation at Angelina College, Highway 59 N, Lufkin, TX 75902. This scholarship was set up for deserving students because of Linda’s love of nursing.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.