Linda Sue Fletcher

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our loved one, Linda Sue Fletcher, 71, on August 9, 2024 at Cumberland Pointe Care Center in Saint Clairsville, Ohio. Linda was born the spirited daughter of Robert Webb and Oma Marie (Marcum) Fletcher in Boone County, WV on January 22, 1953. She was of Christian faith.
Linda was a force of nature and had a fiery spirit just like her hair. She was forever proud of being a country girl at heart. She loved horses, bunny rabbits, and anything farm or wildlife related. She loved bingo, thrift store shopping, and never missed an Ohio State University football game. For the season opener last year at the nursing home, Linda hosted a football party: we ordered pizza, wings, soda and bread sticks for the staff and residents to enjoy while Linda screamed "Come on, boys!" at the television.
She had a particular love for John Wayne; she could recite his movie dialogue word for word. In fact, she had a cat named John Wayne, who she affectionately called "J.W". After J.W. passed away, Baby came into Linda's life and oh, what a joy this dog brought to Linda. Everyone has commented that Linda was the happiest they had ever seen her when Baby was by her side.
In the last year or so, she also spoke frequently about her love for baking and shared her super secret recipe for turning ordinary box cake mix into what she called "the most delicious dessert you ever did taste!". In her last year and half, she spoke in great detail about the life she wanted and how she "made the most of things under the circumstances". She shared that she had wanted to be a professional baker, so whenever she could, she made birthday cakes for her kids, nieces /nephews and grandbabies, and even neighbors. Her carrot cake was the most requested item for the church social- something she took great pride in recounting, partly because it was true, but mostly because it was also her favorite dessert. But if you asked family, her potato salad was the show-stopper; she said the secret ingredient was LOVE "and make sure it's capitalized" she said when Tammy said she was going to write down the recipe.
Linda always wanted to be near family who she loved so deeply. In Columbus, Ohio, she lived just minutes from her brother and even lived in the same apartment building as her sister Jenny. She had an especially close relationship to Uncle Wes Marcum, her mother's brother, and in her last year and half they enjoyed a few phone calls facilitated by conference calls while she was in the care of the nursing home. It was a small comfort to her, "under the circumstances".
In her final year and a half, Linda's constant source of love was her son, Larry Joe. Joe, as he is called, has been Linda's advocate for safety, advisor with her health care team, and benefactor whenever she needed anything. Both Joe and Tammy, from far away, made certain that Linda's needs and wants were always addressed. Many times, Linda didn't care for the food served, so she called Tammy, and within the hour, Linda was eating her chicken McNuggets and sipping an orange Fanta. Tammy and Linda talked on the phone for hours every Saturday- or until Linda grew tired and needed a nap. It was not unusual for Linda to call Joe, Tammy, and Punky several times a day. Linda lost the ability to use her phone due to her illness a few months ago and we can attest with certainty that the calls are already missed.
Her niece, Virginia ("Punky") Loranger was a comfort to her in her last year and half as well: she visited Linda regularly, brought snacks and clothing, and even took Linda out to Bingo or shopping a few times and ended the adventure with dinner at a local restaurant. Punky always made sure Linda knew she was loved; Linda enjoyed those little outings so much. Linda even got a visit from her nephew, Bronson Moghaddan, who he called his "Da". Joe and Tammy want to express their heartfelt appreciation to Punky and Bronson for those visits; you were our eyes and ears and Linda always looked forward to your visits.
Linda knew her time on this earth was coming to end. In her lucid moments, she said she looked forward to going to Heaven to be with her mommy and daddy, sister Jenny (Geneva Gale Swanson), and granddaughter Ryleigh.
Those left to cherish her memories are her loving children; Larry Joe Chambers (Brandon Wright) of Pineville, WV; Tammy (Billy) Riffe of Aptos, CA; Chad Aaron Chambers of Prestonsburg, KY; Amanda Marie Mills of London, OH; two granddaughters, Emily Rose, of Sacramento, CA and Caitlin Christine, in Soquel, CA; one grandson Sebastian Rehl of London, OH. She would often comment that Sebastian was the apple of her eye and how she hoped the world would treat him with kindness. Surviving siblings include: one sister, Helen Baldwin of Columbus, Ohio, and two brothers Steve (Lana) Fletcher And Dallas Fletcher, of North Fort Myers Florida. Uncle Wes Marcum of Columbus, OH, and a host of friends, neighbors, nieces and nephews will miss her dearly.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Matthias Manner of Columbus, Ohio for his stewardship and his care for our mother. We appreciate all the care and compassion Cumberland Pointe Care Center provided the last few months. We are so grateful to Shadyside Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Shadyside Ohio, where while under their care our mother thrived.
Per Linda's wish, a simple cremation will take place; her cremains will be offered as a keepsake to those who wish to have them. A scattering of her ashes and celebration of life services are pending for a later date.
Arrangements are entrusted to Care Funeral & Cremation Specialists, 204 W Main Street, St. Clairsville, OH 43950.