Linda Marie Grate

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Linda Marie Grate, 61, Nevada, died Friday, Oct.19, 2007 at Mercy Health System, Fort Scott, Kan., following an illness of several weeks. She was born Jan. 24, 1946, in Gardenia, Calif., to James R.. Henning and Theo Margaret Kerschmer Henning.

Linda was born and raised in California. She came to this area about 10 years ago and spent the remainder of her life here. She made her living as an over the road truck driver. She loved horses and was an avid fisherman. She also was a fan of Nascar.

Survivors include one son, Ralph Thomas, Whittier, Calif.; two daughters, Cynthia Deaton, Paris, Calif., and Judy Chestnut, the state of Pennsylvania; five grandchildren, Kenneth Smith, Nevada, Jack Bonura, Quantico, Va., Jeanna Thomas, Hutchinson, Kan., Chantel Deaton and Andrew Stamford, both of Nevada; two great-grandchildren, Mariah Burke and Joseph Burke, both of Hutchinson, Kan. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Cathleen Deaton, in 2006.

The family will receive friends at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, Friday, Oct. 26, between 1:30 and 3 p.m. The family suggests that memorials may be made in her honor to the Vernon County Cancer Relief Fund or Nevada Hospice, in care of Ferry Funeral Home.