of Desha, AR
November 9, 1948 - March 12, 2024
Linda Moody was a true southern Lady who did not think she should tell her ''age, weight, or who she voted for'' and would refer to her birthday as ''That day in November''. Linda left this earth on March 12, 2024, with restored vision and health to SEE the face of her Savior and her favorite ''guitar picker''.
Linda married the love of her life, Dan, on July 24, 1966, and on October 10, 2012, her heart was broken beyond repair when the Lord called Dan ahead so suddenly. Linda was also welcomed to her eternal home by her parents, Fount and Vera Barnes, her 9 siblings, and numerous in-laws and family.
Linda was a beloved mother to her children: son, Brad (Jodi) Moody of Desha, and daughter, Dana (Cledas ''Bubby'') Manuel of Nixa, MO. and her grandchildren Maisie Manuel (Carter) Eaton of Rogers, AR, Madison Moody of Franklin, TN, Channing Manuel of Nixa, MO and Gentry Moody of Desha, AR and a host of nieces and nephews.
Momma loved young people, especially the friends of her children and grandchildren. From late night basketball games in the driveway, youth group trips to Branson, and band competitions, to recitals and sporting events. Her love for young people inspired her to establish a college scholarship for Desha Baptist youth who had professed faith in Jesus Christ and was actively involved in church.
She accepted Jesus as her savior as a young girl. She has served the Lord since 1969 at Desha Baptist church, serving as volunteer youth leader and teacher for Awanas and Vacation Bible School for years. She also sang in the choir and did whatever she thought needed to be done to make things right. Linda served many friends and families of the church on the shower committee celebrating weddings, new life, special birthdays and anniversaries.
The White Rogers family was special to her. Linda started working there in about 1970 when she and Dan moved back from Peoria, IL. She started out in the accounting department and was responsible for payroll. At ''month end'' she was always very busy and worked long hours to make sure that everyone got paid. Later she was promoted to IT Manager where she, along with her team, kept the technology and phone lines going until the plant closed in May of 2009, when she retired. In addition to working at White Rogers she was also the Weight Watchers leader in Batesville for many years.
Linda loved summertime. She enjoyed being at the lake skiing and boating with church friends in the 70-80's. Each year on her first time to water ski for the season, she would get on top of the water and yell to us in the boat, ''I am not over the hill yet!'' But her very favorite place to be was at the beach with her family or with the Golden Girls at the Sand Castle! Well, second only to 300 Jamestown Road - she loved the home place that she and Dan built together.
Dan and Linda loved traveling and camping in their 5th wheel with friends, attending many bluegrass festivals over the years. They loved their family deeply. They took great pleasure in taking family vacations but the holidays were the best! Linda was the Queen of Celebrations! Her real joy was planning her family holiday celebrations. Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions ran deep! Her Sunday Lunches were grand and always a big deal with her famous Monkey Bread and strawberry freezer jam! But Easter; Oh Easter was the best!!! Sunrise service, breakfast out, bunny hiding eggs and leaving treats, worship service, family pictures, an amazing lunch and then the egg hunt!!!!
She loved to serve, support, and honor people. One way she honored people was by making wreaths and flower arrangements for the gravesite of the people she loved. It was a double blessing because she could honor those she loved but also got great joy from the making and arranging of the flowers which allowed her to use her ''Valedictorian of the Bow Making Class'' skills that she claimed to have. She would work for weeks prior to Memorial day and she would make a trip to Alderbrook Cemetery, then to Crossroads Cemetery and then up to Sugar Hill Cemetery. A few years ago she made and placed 35 flower arrangements for Memorial Day. The old saying, ''To have great friends you must be a great friend.'' is true and Linda was a wonderful friend because she was blessed to have so many wonderful friends in her life.
She spent a lot of time alone during the pandemic but she kept up with those she loves via Facebook. She was always excited to know what her family across the country was doing and she enjoyed keeping up with her high school classmates and lifelong friends. Her precious companion cat, Lottie Mae, was her saving grace over the last few years.
Serving as pallbearers are: Tommy Taylor, Keith Harmon, Dloyd Sparks, Ron Howard, Ray Bowman, Mark Frasier. Honorary pallbearers are: Bret Ferris, Aaron Moody, Fred Bufford, Ian Kramer
Honorary (sorority) pallbearers are her sweet friends: Debbie Pearson, Debbie Thacker, Jo Stroud, Brenda Taylor, Sandra Howard, Ollie Taylor, Betty Barnes.
The family extends a special thank you for the care provided by Woodcrest Assisted Living, Woodlawn, Caring Hands Hospice and UAMS staff, especially Dr. Jordan Weaver, Dr. Patrick Sullins, Dr. Michael Andryka and Alexis Hoover.
Funeral services will be held Monday, March 18, 2024 at 2:00pm at the Desha First Baptist Church with Josh Swinea officiating. Burial will follow at Alderbrook Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, March 17, 2024 from 2:00pm until 4:00pm at the Roller-Crouch Funeral Home in Batesville.
Donations to the Desha Baptist Scholarship Fund she created years ago, can be made in lieu of flowers by mailing a check to Desha First Baptist Church P.O Box 129 Desha, Arkansas 72527 and note Scholarship- Linda Moody in the memo.
Floral arrangements are under the care of Kim Gleghorn and Ronnie Clouse (870) 613- 5163 at Queen Ann's Lace Flowers and Gifts in Batesville, Arkansas.
Sending Dana, Brad, and Family our deepest condolences and sympathy.
Your Momma could not do enough
for your classmates at Desha Elementary. She was always asking
what she could do to help with parties and events for all the children. Dana you were such an
inspiration for Jackie. This was passed down to you from your wonderful Mother. May God Bless
you in this time of sorrow.
Please know that my thoughts & prayers for strength & comfort are certainly with all your family.
My mother worked with Linda in the office at WR for many years. I first really got to know her at Weight Watchers, in which she helped me & so many people as she was so kind & encouraging. I've always thought she was so pretty & when she smiled it made everyone smile.
I lost contact with her & how she was doing health wise since mother retired & later passed & then I have moved to the Pacific N.W.. I thought the obituary was very personalized,too. since she has passed, I'm so glad her vision has healed & Dan & other family members were there to meet & greet her.
Prayers for the family,Linda was a good person inside and out.
When I think of Desha and growing up here; I think of barber Dan and Mrs. Linda. Next, I hear the song, when we all get to heaven. You as her family must know; we love y'all. Praise God. She was a very godly lady. She will be so missed!
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. May God give you comfort and peace.
It was such a pleasure to have known Linda. My prayers are with her family at this difficult and sad time.
May the Lord’s love fill you with peace in knowing your loved one is no longer in pain and may you feel her love for you still.
Sonja L. Jessen
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Love you guys
Linda is shouting over the hills of glory, enjoying every second of it for eternity with the Lord and all the loved ones gone on before her.
Ray & I loved the musicals and visiting with Linda and Dan at many of the Jamestown or Sandtown jamming sessions.
May God comfort all her much loved family and friends.
Love,
Ray & Cathy Landers
Dana, Brad, Jodi and all her grandchildren I am so sorry for your loss. The first thing I thought was “SHE CAN SEE”. We all wanted that so badly for her and she wanted it so badly. She is seeing Jesus’s face. I thank God for that. Linda was my dear, dear friend for many years and we have had some wonderful times together. She was a very classy, beautiful lady with a beautiful voice and many talents. She loved Jesus, her family, her friends and her church. I will miss her greatly but am blessed that she called me friend.
So sorry for your loss, my thoughts & prayers are with your family.
What a sweet woman. Her and Dan were made for each other. When I saw this the first thing that came to my mind was the old hymn " The Far Side Banks of Jordan." As in the song I can picture Dan running through the shallow waters reaching for her hand.
Prayers for peace and comfort to the family.
Praying for you, Dana, & your family. I know you & your momma have a special bond. Love you!!!
Dana and Channing,,,,,May God Bless you and your family and comfort you in the days to come.
We are praying for peace and comfort,
Moody Family, My thoughts & prayers for strength, peace & comfort during this difficult time. Linda was a sweet & caring lady. She always made you feel welcome & she will be missed by many.
I can only imagine the beauty that Linda is seeing now. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time and the days ahead.
Brad,Dana and family , I am so sorry about Linda. She was loved by so many. I worked with her at White Rodgers for several years and she always had a smile for everyone.. She will be missed !
Praying for you, Brad, Jodi, Dana, Bubby and kids. It was a wonderful blessing knowing Linda! God Bless you in the days to come.
Love you,
Ann & Dale
This family is in my prayers. She was always kind and friendly to all.
Worked with Linda at White Rodgers many years ago. It was a joy to know her. Beautiful lady.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Your mother was such a sweet lady and a ray of sunshine. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
I will never forget her sweet sweet voice singing those good old gospel hymns. She and Dana would give me goosebumps when they sung a special hymn in church. Linda will be missed by hundreds of people. God Bless the Moody family. With love!!!!!
What a wonderful, kind lady. Prayers for your family.
To Dana, Brad, & family: We are sorry for your loss. Shirley & I have known Linda many years. Shirley worked with her at W-R for 20 years. Linda arranged our wedding shower in 1975. I can remember the dark green Datsun B210 she drove. Prayers for y'all.
Linda will be greatly missed a beautiful lady gone to soon a classmate of mine with great love and sadness
Sorry for her family she was s sweetheart.
Work
With at white Rogers for years
Prayers for you all
What a sweet friend and mentor Linda was to me in the 90s when I first married, and moved to Batesville. I loved working with her at White Rogers, as well as special memories made outside of work. I especially remember a weekend shopping trip in Dallas and the opportunity that she gave me to help chaperone the Miss White River pageant. I know that you will all miss her so much, and I pray for peace that passes understanding as you go through the days ahead.
Prayers for comfort.
I'm so sad to hear about your beautiful momma's passing. But don't you know that was a glorious reunion that was for her and your daddy. Prayers for you and your family.
My prayers are with you all as you face the days ahead. Linda was a wonderful person and was blessed to spend a little time with her at Woodlawn. She has left you a beautiful legacy.
Dana, Brad and families. I am so sorry to hear about Linda. My thoughts and prayers are with each of you. I pray our Heavenly Father will wrap His loving arms around you and give you strength, peace and comfort during these difficult times.
So sorry for your loss, Keeping all the family in my thoughts and prayers. May God give you peace and comfort.
Very sorry for your loss. Rejoicing in her gain. My prayers are with you.
Linda Belle was my dad's youngest sister and only 2 months older than me. She was more like a cousin than an Aunt. I teased her by calling her Aunt Linda. I think she liked it.
Our yearly visits from CA were the highlight of our summers. Sugar Hill was like Disneyland. Linda led us on adventures that we never dreamed of. Once she took us to a creek and suggested we sit down to get wet and cooled off. Then she laughed at us and told us, "you never sit in a creek because you'll get chiggers. We did not know about chiggers but we learned.
We loved Linda Belle and will miss her.
Linda was a special individual as her family knows. A personal thanks go out to her as one of a group of women that prayed daily for me as a result of a horrible motorcycle accident years ago. I will never forget you and what those daily prayers meant to me. Rest in peace sweet lady.
Dana, Brad, and family so sorry to hear about sweet Linda. Worked with her for many years !! Loved her very special person to every one !! Prayers for all noe and days to come !!!
Prayers
Linda was a wonderful person I’ve met her at W R when she started work, Have played many jams sessions with her and Dan sure do miss them they were great friends and people
So enjoyed being around this sweet lady. Brighten you up if you were down. Thoughts and prayers.