Mother has become God's newest artist in residence. Dee Anne Link (Showalter), age 85, of Corrales, NM, died at Lovelace Hospital in Downtown Albuquerque on November 25th, 2024, in the late evening. Loved ones and family were by her side. God's reasonings are often unclear, but they are always sound. We are lucky to have spent our lifetime with her beautiful emphasis on living. Her style was magical. It made us focus on the possibilities and like water, flow around the bumps, onto the next adventure. To describe her is futile, but cathartic to try. One could start with words such as: Pioneer, In Charge, Lover, Dreamer, Naturalist, Suffragist, Independent, Artist, Mother, Jokester, Wise, Entertainer, Reader, Wife, Scholar, Optimist, Seamstress, Teacher, A Hippy, Talented, Author, Gardener, Tent Camper, Sister, Poet, Child, Author, Grandmother, Intellectual, Friend, Culinary, Adventurer, to name but a few.
Mom was born in Hutchinson, Kansas on April 17th, 1939 to Anne and Lester (Bud) Showalter. She was the oldest of 5 siblings. Jeri Sue was born in 1941, Christine (Chris) 1947, James Lester (Jim) 1950, and Bruce Allen, 1963. She graduated in 1957, from Wichita East High School in Kansas. Mom went on to Emporia State where she met Forest Lee Link, her future husband and our incredible father. Mom and dad married in 1959 on August 22nd, in Pratt, Kansas. Dad, being a Presbyterian minister, led the family to Fremont, NB where dad held an assistant pastor position, while mom worked as a secretary at a fertilizer plant. In 1960, David Lee was born, followed by Katheryn Anne in 1963. Eventually, dad's ministry led the family to Lawrence, KS where mom went on to earn her BAE in Art Education at the University of Kansas in 1972. She became the art teacher at Lawrence High School. In time, dad's ministry led him to Cuba, NM where mom became the High School Art Teacher at Cuba High. Dad's next calling was in Tacoma, WA where mom worked for the Title 9 office at the School District Office. She maneuvered from this position into one that suited her quite well, as the Gault Middle School Art Teacher. Her studies continued in Tribal Art at the University of Puget Sound, graduating with the class of 1979. Dad's calling, once again led them back to Lawrence, KS where mom involved herself in printing technology, graduating in 1989 from Pittsburgh State. She became the editor for the Kansas State High School Activities Association where she concentrated on informational distribution materials. After Dad's passing in 2014, Mom moved to her dream destination in Corrales, New Mexico, and began her retirement in the Pueblo Los Cerros Community. There, she enjoyed 10 years of the best of indulgences. Mom enjoyed the many relationships she formed. She delighted in entertaining and also being on the board of the PLC development. Amongst a number of committees that she was involved in, she may have enjoyed creating the Que Pasa? Newsletter for the community, the most. She continued her artistry with stained glass creations, sewing, doll making, culinary creations, house remodeling, and her favorite - watercolor painting. She became an honorary member of the Watercolor Society of New Mexico. She entered her art in a number of exhibits around the New Mexico area. Her love of Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, NM, was right up the road from her Corrales home, and remained a haven for her to visit where she would let her creative juices flow. Most likely, this is where she will have some of her ashes mixed with the rainbow earth of the Mesas. Dad's ashes are there as well. Ghost Ranch is a place that surely captured our family's souls.
Dee is survived by her siblings, Jeri (sons Mike and Tim and their families), Chris (son Pete and his family), Jim (wife KaLynn, son Justin and his family) and Bruce (wife Deanna, children Trisha and Tyler, and their families). Dee is also survived by the children she and Forest Link brought into the world, David Lee Link, and Katheryn Anne (Link) Bell (husband Bob Bell, son Lydge Robert Bell.
For donations in Dee Anne Link's honor, please contact Ghost Ranch Education and Retreat Center at:
https://www.ghostranch.org/donate-one-time-gift/
Mom was born in Hutchinson, Kansas on April 17th, 1939 to Anne and Lester (Bud) Showalter. She was the oldest of 5 siblings. Jeri Sue was born in 1941, Christine (Chris) 1947, James Lester (Jim) 1950, and Bruce Allen, 1963. She graduated in 1957, from Wichita East High School in Kansas. Mom went on to Emporia State where she met Forest Lee Link, her future husband and our incredible father. Mom and dad married in 1959 on August 22nd, in Pratt, Kansas. Dad, being a Presbyterian minister, led the family to Fremont, NB where dad held an assistant pastor position, while mom worked as a secretary at a fertilizer plant. In 1960, David Lee was born, followed by Katheryn Anne in 1963. Eventually, dad's ministry led the family to Lawrence, KS where mom went on to earn her BAE in Art Education at the University of Kansas in 1972. She became the art teacher at Lawrence High School. In time, dad's ministry led him to Cuba, NM where mom became the High School Art Teacher at Cuba High. Dad's next calling was in Tacoma, WA where mom worked for the Title 9 office at the School District Office. She maneuvered from this position into one that suited her quite well, as the Gault Middle School Art Teacher. Her studies continued in Tribal Art at the University of Puget Sound, graduating with the class of 1979. Dad's calling, once again led them back to Lawrence, KS where mom involved herself in printing technology, graduating in 1989 from Pittsburgh State. She became the editor for the Kansas State High School Activities Association where she concentrated on informational distribution materials. After Dad's passing in 2014, Mom moved to her dream destination in Corrales, New Mexico, and began her retirement in the Pueblo Los Cerros Community. There, she enjoyed 10 years of the best of indulgences. Mom enjoyed the many relationships she formed. She delighted in entertaining and also being on the board of the PLC development. Amongst a number of committees that she was involved in, she may have enjoyed creating the Que Pasa? Newsletter for the community, the most. She continued her artistry with stained glass creations, sewing, doll making, culinary creations, house remodeling, and her favorite - watercolor painting. She became an honorary member of the Watercolor Society of New Mexico. She entered her art in a number of exhibits around the New Mexico area. Her love of Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, NM, was right up the road from her Corrales home, and remained a haven for her to visit where she would let her creative juices flow. Most likely, this is where she will have some of her ashes mixed with the rainbow earth of the Mesas. Dad's ashes are there as well. Ghost Ranch is a place that surely captured our family's souls.
Dee is survived by her siblings, Jeri (sons Mike and Tim and their families), Chris (son Pete and his family), Jim (wife KaLynn, son Justin and his family) and Bruce (wife Deanna, children Trisha and Tyler, and their families). Dee is also survived by the children she and Forest Link brought into the world, David Lee Link, and Katheryn Anne (Link) Bell (husband Bob Bell, son Lydge Robert Bell.
For donations in Dee Anne Link's honor, please contact Ghost Ranch Education and Retreat Center at:
https://www.ghostranch.org/donate-one-time-gift/
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dee Anne Link, please visit our flower store.
Dee Anne Link's Guestbook
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