Linda Lee Bishop

Born on November 17, 1942, to Joseph and Neva Smart, Linda was the sixth of seven children. Growing up in a large family taught her early that life required determination, hard work, and the ability to stand on your own two feet. Those lessons stayed with her throughout her life.

Linda was not a woman given to sentimentality. She believed in taking care of what needed to be done and finding a way forward no matter the obstacles. She worked for what she had, made do when she needed to, and carried herself with a toughness that was evident to anyone who knew her. Life did not hand her much, but she never expected it to.

Yet beneath that strong exterior was a heart far softer than she often let people see.

Those closest to her knew that while she may not have expressed affection with many words, she showed it in countless practical ways. Her love was found in her presence, her sacrifices, her concern for her family, and her willingness to do what needed to be done for the people she cared about. She loved deeply, even if she rarely made a show of it.

On Tuesday, September 22, Linda passed away peacefully surrounded by her family.

She leaves behind her three children: Jason Bishop and his wife Caryn, with their children Jeremiah and Cayla; Joey Lyon and her husband Mark, with their children Ashli, Sydnee, Dakota, Lucas, and Kingslea; and Joshua Bishop and his wife Kimberly, with their children Jake, Reagan, Emily, and Ethan. She is also survived by numerous great-grandchildren who will continue the family legacy she helped build.

The measure of Linda's life is not found in public accomplishments, but in the generations that follow her. Her family remembers a woman who was resilient, independent, and stronger than most. They remember her determination, her stubborn streak, her ability to endure hardship, her sharp wit, and the quiet tenderness that revealed itself to those fortunate enough to know her well.

Her absence leaves an empty place in the lives of her family, but her influence remains woven into the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In many ways, they carry forward the very qualities that defined her: strength, perseverance, and the ability to keep going when life becomes difficult.

At Linda's request, there will be no memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the International Mission Board's Advancing Eastern Europe Team through the following link:

https://www.imb.org/give/project/advancing-eastern-europe-team/

Linda's life was not flashy, and she preferred it that way. She simply lived it the best way she knew how: working hard, loving her family, and meeting life's challenges with grit and determination. Those who knew her best will remember both the strength she showed the world and the tenderness she guarded within her heart.