Linda L Monk

Linda Lavada (Ford) Monk died on July 15th in Phoenix, AZ with her loving husband Tom by her side. Following a valiant three year battle with brain cancer, Linda transferred to hospice care in early July 2013. Her strong will to live, her deep faith in God, and the love of her family carried her through another year.

Linda was born April 9, 1949, the daughter of Raymond and Mattie Burnett and Earl and Jean Ford all of whom preceded her in death. Also preceding Linda in death were two infant siblings, Carol Dean Ford and William Ford. Linda was born in Corbin, KY surrounded by a large extended family. She was raised in Cincinnati, OH and as an adult lived in Gatlinburg, TN; Morristown, TN; Knoxville, TN; Idaho Falls, ID; Las Vegas, NV; Santa Fe, NM, and Buckeye, AZ. Linda married Thomas Hugh Monk in 1981. Linda leaves behind Tom and four children, Gretchen Lee Lambert (husband Steven Lambert) of Adamsville, TN; Amanda Lee Buelna (husband Daniel Buelna) of Crystal Lake, IL; Erin Monk Tharp (husband Michael Tharp) of Morristown, TN; and Spencer Thomas Monk (wife Katie Monk) of Idaho Falls, ID. She also leaves eight grandchildren Jordan Elizabeth Lambert, Anderson Calle Lambert, Elijah Garrison Lambert, Cooper James Lee, Rylan Thomas Monk, Khloe Marie Monk, Lorelei Angie Tharp and Sophie Lin Monk. Additionally, Linda was preceded in death by her beloved Moose, a beautiful chocolate Labrador Retriever who loved her faithfully and she leaves behind another precious Labrador Retriever, Maddie.

“Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom and loving instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the activities of her household and she is never idle. Her children rise up and call her blessed and her husband praises her also: ‘Many women are capable but you surpass them all!’ Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.” – Proverbs 25-30

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ; The Santa Fe Humane Society, Santa Fe, NM; or Cokesbury United Methodist Church Manna House, Knoxville, TN. Please visit the Surprise Funeral Care website for more information www.surprisefuneralcare.com

Visitation will be held at noon and a Memorial Service will be held at 1 PM at St. John Neumann’s Catholic Church in Farragut, TN. on Friday, August 1st. Graveside service will be at Highland Memorial Park in Knoxville, TN at 3 PMalso on August 1st.

The family would like to send their deepest gratitude to all who helped Linda in her battle through this horrible illness: Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ; Banner-Boswell Hospital, Sun City, AZ; the Arizona offices of Dr. Antonio Yu, Jr., Dr. Jesse Babbitz, and Dr. Christopher Biggs along with Dr. Parmjeet Kumar Banghar, of the Arizona for Cancer Care. Heartfelt thanks are also extended to Mercy Adult Care, Surprise, AZ; whose team, lead by Fred and Marilyn Castro, provided Linda with extraordinary care and love in her last few years. Additionally, Linda’s family offers thanks to all of her friends in Buckeye, AZ; Knoxville, TN; Cincinnati, OH, other cities and the various chapters of the Bechtel Spouses Club where Linda was involved for their faithful support, love, and unwavering dedication to her throughout her life.