Linda Lee Christy

Linda Lee Christy was born Feb. 26, 1962 at Ford Ord Army base located in Central California. Her parents were Harry Lee Christy and Marion Tapie. Harry was born in China of Chinese extraction. Marion Tapie was Hispanic and was from Pacoima, a city in the San Fernando Valley of California.
The Army sent the young family to Germany when Linda was two years old and her sister, Vivian, was almost four. Throughout their lives as sisters, Linda called Vivian "Iv," probably because as a little girl she couldn't pronounce Vivian. Vivian, meanwhile, always called Linda "PeeWee." Both of these sisters came from proud families, and both knew how to work hard.
Linda had a much older brother, Edward, who died when two cars crashed, and he was crushed between the two vehicles. Sadly, both of Linda's parents also died suddenly in an auto accident in Germany. They had gone out for the evening to celebrate Marion's birthday and never returned to raise their children. Harry was 28 years old at the time, and Marion was 30.
Linda and her sister were flown back to California under the care of an airline stewardess, and both sisters were raised by aunts and uncles there, and it was through these relatives that Linda learned to speak fluent Spanish.
Unfortunately, Linda had few happy memories of her school years. The only class she enjoyed was art.
Linda worked at McDonald's for a time and also at a company called Aztec Arts. Here she used her artistic skills painting murals on cars.
At a fairly early age, Linda wound up in jail where she spent her time wisely earning her GED at age 32.
However, at mid-life Linda found herself living (surviving) on the streets in L.A. where she spent ten years. Much of this time was spent at La Palma Park just a block or two from Disneyland – obviously a huge contrast in circumstances. However, the park was Linda's life for a long period of time, and six children were born to her while she was living in that part of Southern California.
Things finally began to take a turn for the better when Linda moved to Pocatello at age 50. However, she was very ill at the time, and her sister, Vivian, took care of her for a year, nursing her back to health.
During this time, Linda was taught the restored Gospel by two full time missionaries, and she willingly gave up some bad habits of many years. In April of 2012 she became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Not long after her baptism, Linda was hired by Deseret Industries and, although very slight of build, she worked very hard on her first assignment of loading and unloading on the dock. She then successfully moved into merchandising and cashiering. She also accepted a call to serve in the Relief Society organization helping with meetings for elderly people in the Highland Hills Assisted Living Center. She did a great job and was loved by the people, both who lived and served with her there.
Linda also made many friends at D.I. She remembered fondly a girl named Jenny from Peru, another girl named Elizabeth from Ghana, a Navajo man named Tony, and also a girl named Tracy from Pocatello.
Linda expressed gratitude often to her coach at D.I., Marty, and to Sally Hickman who originally hired her.
Linda said, "I appreciated D.I. for giving me a job and helping me learn all the skills I learned and the friends I made there – all made possible by the church."
Linda also expressed gratitude to Bishop Rick Excell of the 7th Ward and Michelle Summers, her Relief Society President, as well as the wonderful care and concern and help given to her by the Chris and Amy Williams' family, Teri and Curtis Peterson, Keisha and Dan Frasure, and her year-long mentors, Dean & Nancy Hoch whom she called "Mom & Dad."
Asked about thoughts on her life, she said, "You choose the path you take, and when things go wrong, why cry about it when it's all done?"
Asked, also, about the happiest day of her life, Linda, with a big smile, said, "The day I was baptized!"
This dear lady, with her great sense of humor, her characteristic chuckle, and the funny, little faces she made – just a few weeks before she died added, "I think about life like a vacation, and in my case it was mostly really a bad vacation. Now, I just want to go home -- and I hope and pray when I get there that I will be welcomed by my dear Lord."