Linda Kay Perry born in Sherman, Texas on January 3, 1954, to Hershel (Pops) Stanley and Mary Janice Curtis Stanley, Linda Kay Stanley often bragged that she was the perfect child, being the seventh of her mother's ten children.  She died unexpectedly of a heart attack on March 23, 2026.  Family relocations in her childhood years took Linda from Sherman to McKinney and to Michigan before returning to Sherman and then Shreveport.  Living life's complexities beyond her control Linda was one of several siblings who were adopted by her mother's second husband and carrying the Shellnut name until marriage.  By Linda's teens the family had settled in Shreveport, where she graduated as a proud Woodlawn High School Knight in 1972.  Linda's most cherished youth era experience was as a member of the Youth Choir under the direction of Price Harris, Music and Youth Director at Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport, growing an unwavering faith in God and building cherished friendships that lasted throughout the rest of her life.

The later 1970s found Linda exploring career fields in electronics, working at Shreveport's Southwestern Bell facility, then returning to Sherman to work in the Transformer Assembly Line at Texas Instruments before transitioning to one of Grayson County's pioneering Home Health Care businesses created by her mother.  This era brought an introduction to members of the Young Singles Ministry of Calvary Baptist Church, and one person in particular. That introduction to James Perry grew from a casual friendship over the next year, into a bond that became a dating relationship in late 1979.

Linda and James married in April of 1980 with plans of growing a family together, when life took an unexpected turn a couple of years later, in the way of an urgent surgical procedure to save Linda's life.  Through a commitment to persevere against all odds, adoption processes were initiated, bringing an adorable 3-year-old into their lives in late 1986.  While Linda and James may have allowed their friendship to grow cautiously over time, the introduction to this precious child was love at first sight and Jack Wespy Perry was accepted with open arms and loving hearts.

Linda's career path moved to the field of campus and corporate Dining Service when a part-time position in the Austin College Snack Bar led to a promotion to Cash Operations and Catering Manager for Aramark Dining Services.  There, Linda flourished professionally and the company continued to promote her into more challenging environments, allowing her to fill Dining Service Management positions at UTA, SMU, Alcatel, Dr. Pepper, Sherman ISD and Texas Instruments over the next fifteen years.  As Sodexho began to grow their operation into the southwest region of the country, Linda was again recruited, and she took on the unique role of Intentional Manager, using her expertise to audit and streamline operations and train new managers to be able to grow profits and solidify bonds with the various corporations under contractual commitments with Sodexho.  A job-related accident in 2002 led to Linda's early retirement due to disability.  In retirement, Linda became Nana to three adorable highlights in her life, Jaylor, River and Salem Perry.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, and by siblings, Bobby Joe Stanley, James Donald Stanley, Judy Carolyn Walker, Mary Anne Stanley (who drowned at the age of 16), Charles Gene Stanley, Michael Tracy Shellnut and Bennie Glenn Shellnut.  Linda is survived by her husband, James; her son, Jack; Daughter-In-Law, Shawnee; their three wonderful children; brother, Kenneth Ray Stanley; sister, Edna Marie Fletcher and her husband David; and Sister-In-Law, Christine Stanley (Charles) along with numerous nieces and nephews, and finally, a host of families who, though not related, have considered us as family.

In lieu of flowers, financial donations to Price Harris Evangelical Ministries, Shreveport LA, Shriner's Hospital for Children or your favorite non-profit would be greatly appreciated.