Linda D. Hamlett

Born July 21, 1947 to John Carroll Larson and Lillian Eldora (Smith) Larson.

Died from PSP (progressive supra nuclear palsy) on June 7, 2026

She died quietly at home next to her loving husband Richard Danny (Dan) Hamlett.

For most of her childhood she lived at 2318 Sandy Hollow Road, on a small farm.

She went to elementary school at Nashold school, 9th grade at Jefferson Jr High, and to Guilford High School, where she remembers falling in love with her husband of 56+years.

Loving mother of 2 girls, Kirsten Noel (Hamlett ) Garrigan and Erin Dana (Hamlett) Freeman and wife of Richard (Dan) Hamlett.

Survived by husband Richard Danny (Dan) Hamlett, daughter Kirsten (Hamlett) Garrigan her husband Michael Garrigan and their children, Keenan, Kiah, Larson and Braylon Garrigan and by daughter Erin (Hamlett) Freeman and her husband Robert Freeman and their children Tobin, Lily and Eli Freeman.

Also survived by sister Toni (Worcester) Larson and 2 nephews Scott and Geoffrey Worcester and their families, all of Denver, Colorado area and sister Renee (Larson) Jones and her daughter Amber Jones of Polo, Illinois, and by many friends in the Rockford, Winnebago and Shirland area.

Preceded in death by grandparents from Canada and Sweden and parents John Carroll Larson and Lillian Eldora (Smith) Larson of Rockford, Illinois.

Linda taught for many years in Shirland, Rockton, Durand and Rockford School districts, teaching special education, regular education and ending her career teaching gifted students at Rockford West Middle School.

Linda was a long time volunteer at Shirland grade school and Shirland fire department as an EMT, at both B and I levels.

She was a leader of Tri River Tryers 4H club for 10+ years, during which time she enriched the minds of countless young lives.

She loved travel, music, food, children, grandchildren and the great outdoors.

There will be no visitation, or funeral but a celebration of life at a date to be announced.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Shirland grade school, or Severson Dells Environmental Center.

A celebration of life will be held after the return of her ashes.