Lavada Lou Crook was born March 31, 1935 to Willie Benton Crook and Pauline Perdue Crook. She left this world on August 24, 2016, after a brief, but extremely courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

In February, 1954, Lavada married Charles Otto (Charlie) Linder. Of this marriage four children were born. Charlie passed away in 1985, after his own battle with cancer.

Graduating from Denison High School with the Class of 1953, Lavada was a proud Denison Yellow Jacket. One of the highlights of her life was serving as Drum Majorette for the DHS Marching Band. During her senior year she led the band down Pennsylvania Avenue as they marched in the 1953 Inaugural Parade for President Dwight David Eisenhower.

Lavada worked at Kroger Food Store in Denison, retiring after 29 years of service. During her employment she rarely missed a day's work. She made many lifelong friends during these years that she remained in contact with throughout the remainder of her life.

She was a big supporter and dependable volunteer of Women Rock Inc., a breast cancer organization founded by her daughter, LuAnn. She was often seen zipping around town in her pink zebra striped car with the Women Rock logo. She was a savvy shopper and was often seen at garage or estate sales shopping for merchandise for her antique booth at Main St. Mall, which she co-owned with her son, Mike. She loved and took great delight in spoiling her grandchildren and great grandchildren with goodies and gifts, and a game of 'boo' as she chased them around the house. Lavada was well known for her baking and candy making skills. As a diabetic, she refrained from enjoying the sweets she made, but that didn't stop her from making them for others. She baked or made candy weekly, giving her delicious cakes and candies to family, friends, neighbors, her high school ladies group, local police departments, schools, KXII TV and other area businesses. Lavada was a very generous person and was always thinking of others.

Lavada is survived by her four children: Debbie (Tom) Watt, Mike (Alan) Linder, LuAnn (Mark) Daniel, and Charla (Wayne) Austin. She is survived by her seven grandchildren: Holly (Sean) Norton, Robert Epperson, Blake (Brittany) Epperson, John (Kirsten) Watt, Sarah (Chris) Murdock, Katie Campbell and Natalie Campbell, and her seven great-grandchildren: Zane, Addison and Harper Norton, Tera and Kamryn Watt, and Kellan and Beckett Murdock. She is also survived by her sister, Billie Jean Crook Jennings and her niece, Sharon Ward Killough. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Lavada requested there be no formal service other than a family visitation to celebrate and remember her life. This remembrance will be held at Waldo Funeral Home on Saturday, August 27, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, Lavada requested that donations be made to her favorite charity: Women Rock Inc., 225 E Houston, Sherman, TX. 75090, or online at www.womenrockinc.org.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Hospice Plus for the wonderful care they provided during Lavada's final days. They would also like to thank everyone who called, prayed, visited, provided food or sent cards and messages during her illness. You will be forever remembered and appreciated for the love, care and concern you showed towards her during this difficult time in her life.

The family will be at Lavada's home, 1810 N. Wharton St., in Sherman.

Condolences may be signed online at waldofuneralhome.com.