Linda Jo Deaton-Gilbert

The family of Linda Deaton-Gilbert is heartbroken to share that Linda, loving wife and devoted mother, lost her 8-year battle to breast cancer the morning of Saturday, October 29, 2022, in her home, at the age of 61. Linda was and continues to be the heart, soul, and North Star of her family, and will be missed beyond measure by: her husband, Michel Gilbert; her three sons, Christopher J. Deaton, Kyle Deaton, and Kincade Gilbert; her two daughters-in-law, Courtney (Lawson) Gilbert and Hilary (Cox) Deaton; and their family pup, Pippa.

Linda was born Linda Jo “Jody” Shipman/Barcellano on March 20, 1961 in Des Moines, Iowa, where she was raised, educated (North High ’79), lived, started her family, and worked for 42 years. In 2003, Linda, her husband, and their sons moved to Keller, Texas, where they have been residents for the last 19 years.

Linda spent many years of her career and professional life working with Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, but always had an inherent and keen sense about art, music, designing, decorating, and a deep longing and understanding for healing as well as mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellness. This desire to aid and help guide others led to Linda’s pursuit of becoming a licensed massage therapist and small business owner. In 2011, Linda graduated as valedictorian of her class from Parker University, and, that same year, opened Body Speak Therapeutic Massage in Keller/Southlake, Texas. In 2017, Linda helped open another local health and wellness business (CrossFit PAF) with her eldest son Christopher, and in the same year became certified as a CrossFit Level-1 Trainer and a 200-Hour Yoga Instructor, studied the Art of Vedic Thai Yoga Bodywork, and achieved a multitude of other certifications and training. Linda’s pursuits to learn and to continue to better herself and her community never knew any bounds.

When not studying, pursuing education, or growing her businesses, Linda loved - in no particular order - spending time with her family, supporting her sons and their endeavors, finding out later in her life that she is and is proud to be Filipino, getting margaritas at Mi Pueblo on Friday nights with her husband, designing and decorating and then redecorating and then re-redecorating her home, going out to dinner, making funny videos and finding the oddest of memes and TikToks to text to her family, doing “DIY” decorating and art projects in her home long before they were trendy, making her home comfortable and beautiful for family and friends, providing and making more food than was ever needed, going to Starbucks and then Target to buy aaall the things, going to CostCo to buy even more of all the things, binge watching shows on all of the streaming platforms because it’s definitely better than waiting weekto-week, overstocking the pantry with everyone’s favorite snacks especially Sour Patch Kids and peanut butter (tho she hated peanut butter), keeping condiments in the refrigerator years beyond their expiration dates, beautifully and extensively decorating her home for Christmas, spending time in the sun, constantly working outside on landscaping with her husband and then inevitably having him redo it, laughing at fart jokes with her sons, going to see musicals and plays, supporting local artists, visiting tropical islands, traveling with her husband and only occasionally letting her sons come along, bettering herself, learning, pursuing happiness, and constantly finding ways to help, support, and love her sons and husband.

In the last few weeks of her life, Linda’s eldest son asked her how she wanted to be remembered, and she replied, “Loving…and fun…I hope to be remembered as loving and fun. I was kinda bratty too, but I don’t want to be remembered for that,” as she laughed. Her son Kincade will remember her as being the most nurturing, and humorous with the best laugh, and for being head-strong and knowing her own mind. Her son Kyle will remember her as being his North Star, the one he always went to for guidance and clarity, especially when he struggled. Her son Christopher will remember her as being the definitive, guiding force in his life, giving him his life and voice, and for making him who he is: he is his mother’s son through and through. Her husband Michel will remember her as being his fated companion and the love of his life for all of time and many lifetimes over.

To honor Linda, her family will be holding a Celebration of Life at a future date and time, which will be announced at a later date. Though there will not be an immediate funeral or memorial service, cremation is being handled by Keller’s Old Town Funeral Home & Cremation Services, and the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/ in Linda’s honor.