Linda Caroline Reid Bell
Linda Caroline Reid Bell was born to Alex and Mary (Hungerford) Reid on August 21, 1952 at Petersburg General Hospital. Being the first girl after 5 boys, she was adored. Her sister was soon to follow, completing the family.
Growing up in Scow Bay, she made wonderful friends and would laugh about riding the school bus with 17 other Reid kids. Summers were spent at "camp," usually Thomas Bay, living in the school house (on a float!). Linda was proud to be from a logging family and a lifelong Alaskan. Her parents moved to Ketchikan her senior year of high school. Luckily, her boyfriend worked for Reid Timber, so he made the move too. Merlin and Linda were married on June 13, 1970 and were married for over 55 years.
The next ten years were spent living in logging camps around Southeast and Kodiak. Chad was born in 1973 and Holly in 1977. These years were full of float plane and boat trips to town, beach picnics and caring for her family. In 1981, the family of four settled back in Petersburg, moving back to the property that she grew up on. She kept a welcoming home, always ready to feed extra kids or make a cup of tea for friends.
Linda always made birthdays special and had a knack for giving thoughtful gifts and cooking the perfect meal. Lots of time was spent outdoors; dog walking, bird watching, berry picking, foraging and going for skiff rides, usually with a thermos of coffee and a little picnic packed. The river was one of her favorite places. She enjoyed her years in the office at Reid Brothers, getting to "boss her brothers around" and opening Emily's Bakery with her family was a happy time. She liked her early morning shift, baking and feeding people. One of Linda's greatest joys was having her sweet Tula growing up next door. They spent many hours baking, reading and doing crafts.
As Linda's dementia and hip both took a turn, she lived at Long Term Care her last few years. We would like to say a special thank you to the entire staff there-you are exceptional and so
appreciated.
We miss her kind heart, quick wit, long hugs, sweet notes, nagoon berry jelly and twinkly eyes, yet know we are lucky to have been loved by her.
A Celebration of Life will be held
on May 9th.
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