Obituary for Linda Jo Hyde
Linda Jo Hyde.
Courtesy of Kuehl-Nicolay Funeral Home.
Linda passed away on October 3, 2019 at Bayside Care Center in Morro Bay, California. In 2002 Linda developed lung cancer and she fought a valiant battle with this cancer and many other health issues for 17 years.
To Linda Jo Hyde, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Linda, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Linda really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.
Her parents were Charles A. and Wilma A. Graff. Even as a child, Linda had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t ’help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show-off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.
Always a good playmate, Linda was easygoing and fun-loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Linda managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. She had two younger brothers, Lonnie and Lyle Graff.
All of Linda’s playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Linda experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well.
The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Linda very easy to approach. She was married to her first husband Robert Christy in June of 1965. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage. In 1984 while out with mutual friends Linda met John Hyde. They would become very good friends and eventually fall in love. They would marry in March of 1986.
Perhaps the reason Linda related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Linda and Bob were blessed with three boys, Jeff, Lance, and Lex. They were also blessed with two grandchildren, Nathan and Lauren. Linda had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Linda’s compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Linda had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games. In 1992 she suffered a devastating loss when her youngest son Lex was killed in a traffic accident.
At work, as in life, Linda was a real “people person.” She had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Linda liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Linda was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Linda’s talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Linda as an excellent problem solver. She was employed by KSBY/KDDB as a radio ad executive for 8 years. during this time she would also sell ads for other stations as well. When that was no longer what she wanted to do she started selling Mobile Homes in the Paso Robles area.
Linda enjoyed her leisure time by taking care of living things. Whether it was animals or plants she would put her whole heart in it. Her favorite pursuits were gardening and landscaping. John bought an empty acre of land that Linda planted and cultivated into a garden oasis. She really had green thumbs. Linda was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.
Living life in the fast lane suited Linda just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real-life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Prior to her illness, you could count the most extravagant Christmas party. With decorations galore, she was the talk of the town at Christmas. In 2005 Linda and John took an adventure and went on an Alaskan cruise. It was an exciting trip. In 2006 Linda was told that she only had one year to live, so John took Linda on a Mediterranean Cruise. Of course, Linda got the last laugh on that one.
Linda was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. Linda stayed busy by showing quarter horses. She was a lover of all animals and was surrounded by pets of all kinds.
Linda is survived by her husband John William Hyde and sons Jeffrey Christy, his wife Ellen and their two children Nathan and Lauren of Ramona, California, Lance Christy, his wife Corrine of Houston, Texas. Two step-daughters Tanya Christy of Eugene, Oregon and Vicky Christy of Middlebury, Indiana.
She is predeceased by her parents Charles and Wilma Graff, her brother Lonnie Graff, and her son Lex Christy.
Linda had a difficult time these last 17 years, but she never asked: “Why Me?” She brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Linda Jo Hyde lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile, and as an inspiration to all those who knew and loved her.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your local Humane Society or Animal Shelter.
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