Mourning the Death of Linda Taylor and Celebrating Her Life Wed. Oct. 19 3-6 pm O'Brien Rec Center

Our community in Turley and north Tulsa, and our state, lost a supporter and activist, and we lost a board member of our community foundation, when Linda Taylor, activities director at O'Brien Park, died last week. Her family services were held this past Saturday in her hometown of Cement, OK. A community memorial service will be held this Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 3 to 6 pm at O'Brien Recreation Center. Please come to the memorial reception during that time and bring your stories and photos of Linda.

Here is the obituary information:
Linda Fay Taylor
(July 10, 1949 - October 11, 2011)

Linda Fay Taylor, 62, Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed from this life Tuesday, October 11, 2011.

Linda was born July 10, 1949, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, to Baxter H. Taylor and Minnie B. (Reynolds) Taylor. After graduating from High School, she attended college and received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Education. Before joining the Parks and Recreation Profession, Linda was an educator and basketball coach. She came to the Recreation Profession in 1975 as a Recreation Leader at Tulsa County’s O’Brien Park. She quickly advanced to and was still the O’Brien Park Activities Director. She chartered the O‘Brien Advisory and Education Board, the longest running 501C3 support group in the Tulsa County Park System.

Linda directed day camps, taught fitness classes, started gardens, lifeguarded, arranged special events, organized basketball tournaments and even set up boxing rings. She worked with State Representative Senaca Scott through her activities and State Rep Jabar Shumate was one of Linda’s “kids” growing up at the recreation center. Linda served on the boards of the Tulsa chapters of Business and Professional Women and the American Association of University Women. She was always a steady advocate for equal funding for women’s sports in schools throughout her life. She was a season ticket holder for the WNBA Tulsa Shock team before she knew for sure the Shock would be coming to Tulsa.

Linda served as Activities Director at O’Brien Park for 34 years. She served as President and Historian for ORPS – Oklahoma Recreation and Parks Society. Linda was aware of the need for a clean environment and was “green” before it was popular to be green. She received the CLP (Certified Leisure Professional) certification in 1984. Her desire to protect the environment is still in the hearts of her friends and co-workers. She has recently received the Distinguished Professional Award. She supported various Animal Rescue Locations. Linda has donated her hair at least twice to Locks for Love. There is so much more to say about Linda and her family and friends will always remember her love and dedication to the various clubs, societies, and activities she became involved with.

Linda was preceded in death by her father Baxter Taylor and niece Deborah Taylor.

She is survived by her mother Minnie Robertson and husband J.V.; sister Shirley Stokholm and husband Paul; brother Vernon Taylor; nieces Tricia Taylor and Kirsten Stokholm; nephew Brian Stokholm; great niece Abriana Evans and husband Jonathan; great-nephews Zachary Stokholm, Mason Taylor-Schmidt, and Seth Evans; her care-giver friends Patty Dixon, Angela Swift, Debbie Pleu, Clair Bowles, Keeley Mancuso, Cindy Phillips, Samia Hindi, Pam McWherter, Connie Day, Tina Lynn, Phylis “Cooky” Dawson, Margaret Wilson and Sue Price; many other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services for Linda will be Saturday, October 15, 2011, at 2:00 P.M. at the First Baptist Church in Cement, Oklahoma. Rev. Charles Echols will officiate. Visitation for Linda will be Friday, October 14, 2011, from 12 noon until 8:00 P.M. at the Funeral Home. A Memorial Service is set for Wednesday, October 19, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at O’Brien Park, 6149 N. Lewis Avenue, Tulsa. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.mobley-dodsonfuneralservice.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Mobley-Dodson Funeral Service of Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donation be made to: Third Place Community Foundation, 5920 North Owasso Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74126, where she was a Board member for the Turley and North Tulsa community; or the animal rescue of choice.