Linda Louise Shackleford was born in Bokchito, Okla., on October 19, 1943, to Troy “Twist” and Norine “Fluffy” Shackleford.
About 11 or so years later, she moved with her mother to Durant where she would soon meet the love of her life, Leonard Wayne Wallace. They married there May 19, 1961. Her family had always been her parents and her two brothers, Donald and Billy, but with this marriage she became Linda Wallace and her family exploded. She was given another mom and dad, Leonard and Ida Wallace. She gained another big brother, Floyd Wallace and a sister in his wife, Marty plus a nephew Mike and a niece Sherri, along with a big sister, Marie, and another brother in Marie’s husband, Wendell and three more nephews: Terry, Jerry and Jack Risner. This came with the added bonus of a baby brother, Ronnie, for her to spoil. Life was good. Sunday gatherings were huge.
In the years to come, her family would continue growing when her brother Billy brought her a new sister Patty, a niece, Tammy and a nephew Scott. Mark Wallace was born to Floyd and Marty and Donald’s son, Casey arrived continuing the expansion. And eventually Ronnie would marry, bringing her a new sister, Jane, and one more nephew, Matthew. Yes, all of this was a nice start, but family was important, so she added her own first child, Regina Lynn and four years later her second daughter, Misty Gail, both of whom she guarded fiercely until they were grown and married. Both did marry and gave her more sons, Bill and Billy and finally grandchildren, Cassidy, Caitlyn, Savannah, Chloe and Sawyer, with great nephews and nieces galore, all of whom she cherished and adored more than anything in the world.
She loved country music and ’60s Rock and Roll. She had the warmth of friends and family. She had the love of her beloved Leonard Wayne. You seldom saw her without him or him without her. But there always comes a time to go. Her mothers and her fathers had gone on the long walk home. Her brothers, Donald, Billy and Floyd, her sister Marty, had all preceded her. Now, it was her time to follow. Those who remain will miss her but always remember and love her and someday follow her as well to another gathering at another Sunday table.
Services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at The Monterey Chapel corner of S. Ninth Ave. and Texas Street in Durant with burial in Bokchito Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be her nephews – Terry Risner, Mike Wallace, Jerry Risner, Jack Risner, Mark Wallace, Matthew Wallace, Casey Shackleford and Scott Shackleford.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Gordon Funeral Home in Durant.