Linda Kay Hershey

1950 - 2024

Galveston, Tx - In Loving Memory

Linda Kay Cherrington Hershey

1950-2024

Linda Kay Cherrington Hershey, a much-loved wife, sister and aunt, and life-long resident of Texas, died with her family at her side in Spicewood on July 22, 2024, after a courageous battle with a neurological disorder.

Born January 17, 1950, Linda grew up in Harlingen where she developed her strong work ethic from the examples set by her parents, who farmed, raised cattle, and ran an insurance agency. Linda graduated first in her class from Harlingen High School in 1968. She earned her bachelor's degree in political science from Rice University in 1972, a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs in 1974, and her MBA from UT Austin in 1996.

Linda was devoted to family. She and her husband, John Paul Hershey, shared 26 years in a very happy marriage based on Galveston Island. She was the much-admired older sister and mentor to Janet and Anne, and she was an involved and supportive "Aunt Linda Kay" to her dearly loved nieces and nephews.

Linda's sense of service led her to a career in public affairs, focused on the development and refinement of public mass transit systems. She was gratified to work in a field that supported community development and equitable access to transportation. Linda held senior positions with the City of San Antonio, the City of Houston, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Houston (METRO), LKC Consulting, Inc., and the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University. Linda was proud to be named the recipient of the inaugural Distinguished Service Award presented by the Texas Transportation Association in 2023, considering it the capstone of her career.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, F.H. (Bud) and Dorothy Cherrington. She is survived by her husband John Paul Hershey of Galveston, her two sisters Janet Cherrington Eakes (Gary Eakes) of Spicewood, and Anne Cherrington Culver (Doug Culver) of Houston, and their children Valerie Susen Jacobs (Larry Jacobs) of Austin, James Susen Parks (Meghan Parks) of Huntsville, Alabama, Blaine Cherrington Eakes (Mollie Ebner) of Portland, Oregon, Kevin Chase Culver (Jordan Sheffield) of Cypress, and Ellen Elizabeth Culver of Austin. Three great-nieces and nephews, Charlotte Jacobs, Wesley Jacobs and Calvin Culver, also survive her.

In addition, Linda is survived by her step-siblings Dee Darby (James Darby) of Houston and Mitchell Swope (Julia Swope) of Round Rock, and their children Scarlett Tyler (Luke Tyler) of Houston, Patrick Darby (Lauren Darby) of Houston, Jay Swope (Crystal Swope) of Austin and Clayton Swope of Dallas.

Also left to grieve and remember Linda are John Paul's son, Trey Helle (Michelle Helle) of Dallas, and their children Lane and Georgia, as well as John Paul's sister Susan Hershey of Georgetown and her daughters, Courtney Fields (Jamie Fields) of Georgetown and Christine Annis of Dallas.

John Paul and the rest of Linda's family wish to extend special thanks and gratitude to Karen Fields for her devoted care and concern for Linda over the last several months, and to Noemi Ayala for her compassion and years of friendship, care and service.

A memorial gathering of family, friends and colleagues will be held at Rice University at the Cohen House Faculty Club, on Saturday, August 17th at 3:30 pm followed by a reception until 6 pm. From the main entrance to the campus at the corner of Sunset and Main St., follow signage to Cohen House.

For those who wish to make a donation to honor Linda's memory, the family requests it be made to the Frontotemporal Dementia Research c/o Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation at P.O. Box 4384, Houston, TX 77210-4384 OR on-line at https://givingforms.houstonmethodist.org/GeneralGivingForm . For the Gift Designation, please indicate "Neurological Institute" as the Program or Initiative.