Linda Marie Chase, a resident of Flagstaff, Arizona for over thirty years, passed away of natural causes on October 9th, 2022. Linda had been fairly limited in her activities since a stroke in 2011, but led an interesting life until then.

She was born the only child to Frank and Alice Olmstead on April 18, 1940 in Long Beach, California and grew up in the house her father built for the family in Wilmington. She led a charmed life as a little girl until a heart attack took dad when she was twelve. Linda and her mom enjoyed a very close relationship that included travel and cruises, and long weekends at their little beachfront place in Popolta, Mexico. They looked after each other until Alice's death in 1985. To Linda's last day she asked where her mom was and yearned to "go home" to her. She enjoyed an equally close relationship with her two daughters, Lisa Marie McCoy and Mia Suzanne Smith who both lived in the Flagstaff area until their untimely deaths (Lisa in 2013 and Mia in 2016). Fortunately, the effects of Linda's stroke prevented her from the long-term grief of all their losses.

Linda is survived by her son Stephen (Gaynor) Crane, four grandchildren, Amy Perez and Lindsey Wenger of Flagstaff, Sarah (Brad) Houseworth of Lee's Summit MO and Zachary (Cassy) Crane of Greenwood, MO as well as twelve great-grandchildren: Isaiah and Naomi Perez, Emma and Jude Houseworth, Kenzie Dieter, Ryder and Garrett Wenger, and Abigail, Vivian, Gabriel, and twins Charlotte and Caroline Crane.

Linda was a bright and talented woman; artistic, imaginative, curious, and driven to excellence. With only a high school education, and in a male-dominated world she rose from the secretarial pool to hold several important technical and analyst positions within the defense industry. After she retired and moved to Flagstaff from Southern California she started a business called SkunkChaser (a play on her own name) humanly trapping skunks and releasing them into less populated areas. She appeared in local news reports and had articles written about the old lady crawling under houses to set traps – which she loved immensely! The nature of her business could not be mistaken from the smell of her truck, garage, and clothing!

Beyond her love for her family and pets, she loved the ocean, mountains, jewelry, technology, chocolate, peanut butter and lots of cigarettes. She would try anything once (her first attempt at roller blades resulted in a broken ankle), and pursued many new interests to the point of acquiring all the tools or material necessary – before losing interest and moving on to the next thing. Her passion in later years was buying things QVC and HSN where she was known by name and would periodically be put on air to share her buying experience.

She never wanted to miss anything, whether it be a new trend, gadget, fad, or technological advancement – and she didn't! She had the tattoos, piercing, tablets, apps to prove it. She was a brave, strong, and loving person who felt life's pains and disappointment deeply, but never allowed her sadness or struggles to break her spirit. We were all better for her place in our lives.

Linda was a spirited woman who was never shy about expressing herself, but she was also a very caring, giving, and loving person on behalf of those unable to speak for themselves. That example has taught two generation of offspring to be strong and courageous in the face of life's adversities. She will be missed and we shall remain indebted to her forever.