Linda D. Parr

Linda D. Parr

(July 15,1944 – January 15, 2022)

Linda D. Parr , 77, of Shelbyville, formerly of New York, passed away Saturday, January 15, 2022, at Good Shepherd Hospital, Shelbyville. Services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, February 26, 2022, in the Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Casual attire is requested. A private burial will follow at a later date in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville. Linda requested UNICEF and NY Capital District Chapter of EGA (Embroidery Guild of America) as recipients for any memorials.

Linda was born July 15, 1944, in Shelbyville, the second child of Guy Dailey and Nannie G. Parr.  She was an honors graduate of Shelbyville High School Class of 1962, attended MacMurray College, then graduated Eastern Illinois University (Magna Cum Laude) with a Bachelor of Arts. She later earned her Master of Business Administration from SUNY-Albany New York. She briefly taught French at Stephen Decatur H.S. in Decatur IL before moving to Painted Post, NY with her husband at the time.

Linda began her working career in New York State government in Rochester, NY, then later moved to the State capital in Albany where she earned recognition and accolades throughout her career as claims examiner, supervisor, audit manager, staff training & development specialist and later director, and administrative analyst. She retired with disability in 1997.

Linda pursued her many interests with great passion. She excelled at all she did whether it was birding with Audubon Society groups, preparing the cuisine of France, China, Mexico, or America, or traveling to Scotland, England, France (Giverny). In retirement years Linda loved to travel to coastal Maine and to Belize. Her leisure time was spent doing embroidery, reading, and activity in The Crazy Ladies Book Club (named from a statement from a Victorian man). Linda belonged to and supported groups promoting women’s and civil rights, mental health, and personal growth. Her long life also included volunteer work for upstate flood victims. She once said her only life’s regret was not conquering obesity.

Surviving are her sisters, Bari L. Spesard (Gary) Everett, WA, Jayne Smith Tucson, AZ; brothers, Mark L. and Van Jon Parr of Shelbyville and Jerry L Parr; nieces Lisa D. Spesard, Sarah J. Smith, Tricia Ort, and Elsa M. Parr; nephews Cary Bryson (Rita), Grant Spesard, Drew Spesard (Dana), Aaron Spesard, Morgan Smith; sister-in-law Marsha Parr, Elsa Parr; as well as several cousins, great nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind special friend Janice Nissen and adopted nieces and nephews Sam & Abby Nissen and Soojee & Ian Eckardt-Rigberg, all of New York.

She was preceded in death by her parents (2003) and brother Guy D. Parr (2006).