Linda Carol Evans

Born to parents Forrest Eugene McCormick and Anita Jane (Donovan) McCormick on September 27, 1948 in Hutchinson, KS, Linda, age 76, peacefully passed away during her sleep on Saturday morning, January 4, 2025 at her Joliet residence. 

 Linda attended elementary schools located in Medicine Lodge, Kansas and Vancouver, Washington. She was a member of the High School Class of 1966 at Enid, Oklahoma. After earning a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the Phillips University in Enid, on May 20, 1970, she taught music in two rural districts in Kansas before attaining a full-time music teaching position with the Minooka Grade Schools in Illinois. She retired from teaching in 1991.

 Linda married her first husband, Raymond James Mackey on July 10, 1982. They made their home in Joliet prior to retiring to Edmond, Oklahoma in 1991. Jim preceded her in death in April 28, 1997.

 After her retirement, Linda enjoyed working in different positions - as a nanny, as a clerk in a women's dress shop, at the local tag agency, as a church secretary, and lastly as a reservations clerk for Southwest Airlines at the Oklahoma City Call Center. After marrying her second husband, Dale T. Evans on November 4, 2000, Linda worked in the same capacity at Chicago's Midway Airport's SWA's Call Center. She was very proud of her ten-year employee status and was feted with other equally recognized employees that were flown to a week-end long celebration at the Dallas Convention Center in 2009. Even though she trained for it, Linda never was called upon as an emergency SWA liaison to assist family members of SWA passengers that suffered injuries sustained from any SWA disaster.

 Linda fully practiced her faith in communities wherever home was: at Medicine Lodge, Vancouver, Enid, Edmond and Joliet. At the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Joliet, Illinois she was ordained to the Office of Deacon and Elder. She participated in the life of the church during worship, sharing her musical talents through singing in the Choir or by directing the Bell Choir. She helped bring and foster the Stephen Ministry Program at Westminster. She loved the camaraderie of the sisterhood experienced in Presbyterian Women - and coordinated our local Kids Hope USA outreach program to the nearby Joliet Public Grade School Taft Elementary School. 

 Linda was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband and brothers Bradley F, Jeffrey T. and Jon D. McCormick.

 She is survived by her husband, Dale T. Evans, her in-laws Alfred N. and Teresa J. Evans; David & Susie Evans, several nieces, nephews, cousins, numerous friends and dear ones - especially the Ampofo's, the Ballard's, and her Church Family. We are truly blessed by God to have had the privilege of being with and enjoying Linda these many years.

 A Celebration of Her Life will be held at a later date. The family sincerely appreciates the assistance lent by the City of Joliet Fire and Police Departments, the Will County Coroner's Office, and Kathy Giegerich at the Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home located at 1500 Black Road, Joliet, Illinois.