Linda Lee Brune, 65, passed away peacefully at her home in Murphy, Texas, surrounded by her husband and her children on Monday, May 13, 2013, after a 1,334 day battle with cancer.
She was born on February 25, 1948, in California, Missouri, to Eugene Reed and Marjorie Maxine (Anderson) Zumalt. She married Dwayne Martin Barner on April 16th, 1964. He preceded her in death on April 2, 1969. She married Robert Paul Brune on September 4th, 1970.
Linda attended Southern Boone High School where she was a cheerleader, drum majorette and baton twirler. She worked briefly for State Farm Insurance but left to focus on her family. She served as a Hartsburg 4-H leader, Hartsburg Legion Little League Baseball Coach, Water Ski Instructor and Driver's Education Instructor. She loved learning new skills, even taking a job at a furniture restoration store to learn the art of caning chairs. She enjoyed classic cars, roller and ice skating and was an avid bowler with the Tuesday Early Birds bowling league.
She served her community as President and member of the Wylie Texas ISD Board of Education and as a Past President and member of the Hartsburg American Legion Auxiliary Unit 424. She loved to volunteer her time and energy to serve those in need. Her volunteer activities included various food banks and Special Olympics where she served as a bowling and swimming coach. She never met a stranger and having her house full of her children's friends was a source of tremendous joy. She loved each as her own.
Her time as a cancer patient was spent engaging those in treatment with her. She preferred taking her treatment in the area for patients with advanced cancer to encourage both patients and staff. She enjoyed passing out real four leaf clovers to her friends in treatment, many of which had never seen one.
Hers was a life lived with joy.
She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Robert Paul Brune of Murphy, Texas; son Biff Wayne Barner and wife, Carole of Hartsburg, Missouri; daughter Lee Ann Jestis and husband, Benny also of Hartsburg; son James Robert Brune and wife, Melanie of Wylie, Texas; son Frederick William Brune also of Murphy; granddaughters Kristen Ashley and Erin Michelle Barner of Hartsburg; Kayla Ann Jestis of Hartsburg; Megan Lynn Brune of Wylie; and one sister Janice Anderson of California, Missouri.
Texas services are under the direction of Charles W. Smith and Sons, 2925 Fifth Street, Sachse, Texas with visitation on Friday, May 17th from 4-6 pm followed immediately by a brief memorial service.
Missouri Services are under the direction of Houser-Millard, Jefferson City, Missouri with a memorial service at Peace United Church of Christ, Hartsburg on Sunday, May 19th at 4:00 pm immediately followed by a reception and meal at the American Legion Hall, Hartsburg.
Memorials are suggested to: Peace United Church of Christ, Box 19, Hartsburg, Missouri 65039