Linda Lazenby

Linda Lazenby was born to Marshall and Hazel Lazenby and raised in Pasadena, Texas. She was a proud graduate of Pasadena High School, Class of 1971. In high school, she was a member of the drill team, the Eagle Escort, and sang in the school choir. After graduating, Linda earned her B.A. from the University of Houston in 1975. She would later receive her master’s degree in Education from the University of Houston as well.

Upon receiving her Bachelor’s degree, Linda began a career in Houston ISD, where she taught English at Kashmere High School. Linda loved classical literature, and in particular enjoyed teaching Shakespeare to her students. After 17 years at Kashmere, she then became the Magnet Coordinator at Gregory-Lincoln Middle School, Assistant Principal and Principal at the Rice School, and Principal of Debakey High School. In all, she served 37 years in Houston ISD. Throughout her career, she positively impacted the lives of thousands of students, and became lifelong friends with many of the wonderful educators she worked with at different campuses.

After retiring from Houston ISD, Linda took horseback riding lessons and started teaching yoga classes at Unity Church. Both her yoga practice and the friendships she made through her classes provided her immense joy. Additionally, Linda gave back to her high school alma mater by joining the Pasadena High School alumni mentoring program and providing guidance to current students.

While Linda was dedicated to her career, her family was most important to her. She enjoyed 39 years of marriage to Lief Sigren. Together, they often went to the mountains in Colorado, traveled the world, and raised their two children, John and Jacob. In recent years, their family grew, as John and Jacob both married and Lief and Linda welcomed two grandsons, James and Andrew. Whether it was in Colorado, at Thanksgiving, or just watching a football game, Linda enjoyed some of her happiest moments when her large family would come together.

Linda often said, “If you get a chance to do something, do it.” She jumped at any opportunity to go out to dinner, dance at a party, or celebrate someone’s special occasion. She hosted rowdy Christmas parties, took road trips to go to rock concerts, watched horse festivals in Mongolia, and thoroughly enjoyed a good game of poker (a quick word of advice—if you stayed in a hand with her, you better have some cards, because she wasn’t bluffing). She also had season tickets to her beloved Houston Cougars’ basketball games, which she attended with her husband Lief, brother Don, and sister-in-law Sandy. No matter the occasion, Linda loved to be around people, and people loved to be around her.

As mentioned earlier, Linda sang in her high school choir, and she continued to enjoy singing throughout her life. She had a beautiful Soprano voice, and would often snuggle and sing lullabies with her grandchildren to help them fall asleep.

Linda was generous beyond words, and always put her problems aside so that she could help other people. She would do anything for her students, coworkers, friends, and family, and had an uncanny ability to deflect conversation away from her own burdens and towards other peoples’ stories.

A celebration of Linda’s life will be held at the Heights Funeral Home (1317 Heights Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77008) on Saturday, July 13, at 10 am, with a reception to follow.

Linda is survived by her husband Lief, her son John and his wife Faith, her son Jacob and his wife Julia, her brother Danny and his wife Sharon, her brother Don and his wife Sandy, her nieces Jennifer, Stacy, Misty, and Tammy, her nephew David, her lifelong friend Carolyn, and countless other cherished friends and family members.