Linda's obituary
Linda Dolores Cook Engel, daughter of the late Ted and Dolores Cook was born February 16, 1943 in Altadena, California. Linda grew around southern California, including Hollywood and Ontario. Linda attended the Ontario-Montclair school district. She graduated high school early at the age of 16.
Linda grew up loving the beach and animals. Over the years she had many pets that were important to her including a horse named Pogo, several dogs and too many cats to count.
Linda married John P. Engel on December 30, 1961. The union was blessed with four children. The family moved to Texas in 1977. Before leaving the west coast, the whole family moved to Pine Springs Ranch, living there as care-takers for over a year and half.
As her own children grew up, she was active in their school environment and clubs, often serving as a “room mother.” She carried this love for helping children throughout her working life. Since the late 1980s Linda worked for the Keene Independent School District. Until 1999 she taught children with special needs at Odyssey Harbor. When that campus closed, she moved to elementary school, working for many years as a librarian. The last few years, Linda served as a reading tutor for students who needed a little extra attention.
She quietly departed this life in the early hours of Thursday, August 8, 2024 at Hugely Hospital in Burleson, Texas. She was proceeded in death by her son, John Robert "JR" Engel.
Her beautiful life will be forever cherished by those that survive her: husband John P. Engel: daughter Linda Beckwith and grandchildren Jameson Beckwith and Lindsay Beckwith; daughter Christine Love and son-in-law Mark Love and granddaughter Sierra Love; daughter Ruth Engel-McEntire and son-in-law Brad McEntire with grandson David Thaddeus McEntire; brother Bob Cook and sister-in-law Jodi Cook; sister Barbara Livesay and brother-in-law Donald Livesay; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and colleagues.