Linda Ruth Blaydes

Linda Ruth Blaydes, 71, of Abilene, died Friday, April 30, 2010, at local hospital. Funeral services, with Russell Smith presiding, will be at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 in the chapel at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. A private family graveside service will be held on Thursday where Linda will be laid to rest beside her parents. The daughter of Billie Hays Blaydes and Joseph H. Blaydes, Linda was born August 19, 1938 in Dallas, Texas. Linda was the 1956 class valedictorian at Alvarado High School south of Ft. Worth. She graduated with honors from Texas Wesleyan College in Ft. Worth and served proudly as a professional educator for over 43 years in Texas. She leaves behind a huge impact on the lives of thousands of Texas school children. Linda taught in McCamey and Big Lake south of Midland-Odessa for McCamey ISD and Reagan County ISD, and completed her classroom days at Coleman ISD. In 1994 she went to work for Region 14 Education Service Center as an educational technology consultant and librarian consultant until her retirement in 2002. She continued to tutor college and high students in algebra at her home until shortly before her death. Ms. Blaydes was preceded in death by her parents and her longtime friend Mrs. Jewell Harris. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Lucy Blaydes Holet and Aleck Holet of Abilene, dedicated friends Barbara Lambert, Rue Jones, close neighbors the Darby family and a host of other friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Linda's favorite charities: Rescue the Animals, 4620 North 1st Street, Abilene, TX 79603; The American Heart Association, 149 N. Willis, Suite 10, Abilene, TX 79603; or to the American Lung Association, 8150 Brookriver Drive; Suite S102, Dallas, TX 75247.