Garah N. Linden

WASHINGTON-Garah N. Linden, 88, of Washington, IL., passed away at 4:00 p.m., Monday, October 2, 2017, at her residence.

Garah was born on April 19, 1929 in Clay County, Tennessee, to Oather and Velva (Gates) Nevins. On January 16, 1960, she married her soul mate and love of her life Melvin G. Linden at Trinity Lutheran Church in Peoria, IL., together they shared 50 years of marriage until his death on May 10, 2010.,

Surviving are their two daughters, Brenda Linden of Port Orange, FL and Kelly Linden of Louisville, KY; one brother Doyle Nevins of Milton, FL along with four grandchildren. Also surviving is her extended family for the last three years, Lori (Shane) Wolgemuth-Spencer and their children Megan, Edward, Autumn, and Raymond along with their dog Piper who Garah was fond of.

After graduation from high school, Garah earned an Associated Degree from Brea College in Kentucky.

Garah retired from Caterpillar Tractor Co., where she had worked as an accountant for more that twelve years. What she considered her greatest accomplishment, was when she was working for Great Lake Naval Training Center, as a statistician in the electronics supply office during the first era of the Korean Conflict when the FBI and CIA gave her top secret clearance and she could locate the position of any naval vessel at any time in the South Pacific.

She had been a member of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Washington for many years where she served as an usher, Sunday School Teacher and helped with confirmation class for two years.

Garah wanted to share a poem that was left to her by her husband Melvin, written by Isla Paschal Richardson. To those I love: "If I should ever leave you whom I love, to go along the Silent Way, grieve not, Nor Speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you there, (I'd come…I'd come, could I but find a way! But would not tear and grief be barriers?) And when you hear a song or see a bird I loved, please do not let the thought of me be sad…For I am loving you just as I always have… You were so good to me! There are so many things I wanted still to do…So many things to say to you…Remember that I did not fear…It was just leaving you that was so hard to face…We cannot see Beyond…But this I know: I loved you so…Twas heaven here with you."

Funeral Services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 7, 2017, at Mason-White Funeral Home in Washington. Rev. John Rothfusz will officiate. Visitation will be one-hour prior to her service. Burial will follow her service at Glendale Cemetery in Washington. Memorials in her name may be given to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, or to Tazewell County Animal Protection Society (TAPS). To share memories and condolences visit masonfuneralhomes.com.