Linda Lavelle Harlan

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our mom, Linda Harlan, 75, on August 29, 2025, at Hospice of Southern Kentucky, in Bowling Green.

Linda Lavelle Brown was on October 29, 1949, to Clyde and Patsy Brown, in Frankfort, Kentucky. She graduated from Olmstead School in 1967 before attending Murray State University to major in Library Science. She later completed her master's degree at Western Kentucky University. She married Joe Michael Harlan, of Adairville, on December 21, 1970. Together they faced many challenges over the years, most recently her cancer journey and his battle with dementia. He loves her and she loved him, through sickness and in health.

Professionally, our mom served as librarian at Olmstead School for nearly 30 years, before retiring in 2007. During her tenure, she fostered a love of reading in thousands of students. Following her retirement, she found joy in being a caregiver for her mother, a Pampered Chef consultant, and the volunteer manager with Kentucky Artisans at the Saddle Factory. She also enjoyed sewing, crafting, painting, and playing the piano in her spare time. She was a charter member of Victory Baptist Church, where she served as pianist.

During our childhoods, she was a 4-H and Girl Scout Mom and tried to attend every basketball game, volleyball game, and tennis match her girls were involved in. Later she tried her hardest to be an involved Nana to her grandchildren, attending baseball, basketball, and football games, and school plays, and programs, until her health prevented her from participating. She was also an amazing volunteer, always willing to step in to help with any community event in which her family and friends needed extra hands or support.

Our Mom was first diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in 2018. Since then, she fought through several stages of the disease and other serious health complications before her passing, facing each battle with courage and an unexpected wit. When her health necessitated our parents move to Charter Senior Living in 2023, she made the best of the situation and faced the new chapter with positivity and made many new friends in the process. It is our wish that our mom be remembered for her love of her family, her love of God, and her clever sense of humor. We're going to miss her so much.

Linda Harlan is survived by her husband of 54 years, Joe Michael Harlan, and three daughters: Jennifer Capps and husband Andy, of Bowling Green, Sarah Jo Harlan, of Russellville, and Lindsey Harlan and husband Kasey Clear, of South Bend, Indiana. She also leaves behind three cherished grandchildren - Keyleigh Harlan, of Nashville, Tennessee, and Eli Capps and Justin Capps, both of Bowling Green.

Survivors also include a brother, Mike Brown and wife Donna, Lewisburg, and two sisters, Jane Wilson and husband Jeff, of Gallatin, Tennessee, and Jodi Stuart and husband Robert, of Russellville, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother, and her own unborn child she was so looking forward to meeting in heaven.

Our family would like to thank Charter Senior Living, Hospice of Southern Kentucky, and the numerous medical professionals who provided such excellent care for our mom and allowed her to make the most of the past seven years.

Visitation for Linda Harlan will be held at Summers & Son Funeral Home on Saturday, August 30, from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Per Mom's wishes, a graveside service will be held at Beechland Cemetery, in Beechland, Kentucky, on Sunday, August 31st, at 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Olmstead Elementary School Library Fund, a place our mom loved deeply. Summers and Son Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.