Linda Marie Platt

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Linda Marie (Gray) Platt, 50, of Nevada, Mo., died from complications of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) on Oct. 22, 2009. She was born to Wilbur and Josephine Gray on Aug. 12, 1959, in Pierre, S.D. She married William Earl Platt, of Wichita, Kan., on Aug. 20, 1977, in Rapid City, S.D. From this union three children were born: Andrew Thomas, Tabitha Michelle and Jennifer Julia. She would claim that these were the inspirations of her life.

Her faith and personality were a daily testimony to God and her family. She cherished being a servant, a wife and a mother. Within the last few years of her life she would shine as the service learning coordinator at Cottey College. The experiences and gifts that were shaped as a preacher's wife and a mother would be magnified by her opportunities to serve at Cottey and in the community of Nevada.

The following are her feelings as to the disease that would claim her life, "When I was first diagnosed with this disease, I had many people question the 'why' of it all. And I never personally questioned why, as much as the frustration of giving up dreams. However, my ready response has always been 'why not' me? I have never believed you can take only the good and not the bad of life. Life has a way of dealing out both. Upon contemplation of what I was to do with this news, I understood that my task was still the same. Proverbs 1:7 tells us that we are to start anything with God, that He is really what it is all about. So if I properly understood the scriptures my task, even though I was ill, was to continue to worship God and to do what He asked me to do, which was to tell others about Him. I have tried hard to do this well. I request that you join in the celebration of my life by worshiping our Lord, who gives us hope among so many other things."

Linda is survived by her husband Bill, of 32 years; her children, Andy and wife Annie of Fairfax, Va., Abi, of Nevada, Jae and her husband David Miller, of Florissant, Mo.; her mother Josephine Anne Gray, of Camby, Ore. Linda was the oldest of four children. Her surviving siblings are: Gary Wayne Gray, of Simla, Colo.; Holly Jean Meyer, of Rapid City, S.D., and Karin Anne Burnes, of Camby, Ore. Among Linda's final tasks was to have a five-generation photo with her grandmother Dorothy Monsen, of Custer, S.D., and her grandchildren, Elena and Ronan Tai Miller, of Florissant, Mo., grandmother, Opal Duncan, of Spearfish, S.D.; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws also survive Linda. Linda was preceded in death by her father Wilbur Warren Gray, of Blackhawk, S.D.; grandfathers Harold Duncan and Glide Gray; and grandmother Catherine (Sheridan) Gray.

Funeral services will be held at the First Christian Church of Nevada, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 11 a.m. Burial will be held at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Newton Burial Park. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Good News Productions, of Joplin, Mo., in care of Evergreen Memorial Chapel.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.evergreenmemorialchapel.com.