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Fairview Cemetery

Vinita, Craig County, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 36.65330, -95.14030

© Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral Home
Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Linda Lee (Hoover) Berry

September 2, 1946 ~ January 23, 2025

Linda Lee (Hoover) Berry, 78, a long-time resident of Vinita, passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2025, in Colcord, Oklahoma. Linda was born on September 2, 1946, in Vinita to Curtis James and Doris Louise (Sloan) Hoover. Growing up, she loved visiting her grandparents James Sloan, and Gillie (Carroll) Sloan, who lived on the family's original Cherokee Indian allotment land in Pensacola, Oklahoma.

Linda spent most of her grade school and high school life in Claremore, before moving to Afton for her senior year, where she graduated from Afton High School as the Salutatorian of the Class of 1964. She then attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College before pursuing her bachelor's degree in teaching at Northeastern State University in 1970. She taught in Afton, Shawnee, and Bluejacket until her only child, Jennifer, was born in 1983, after which she stayed home to raise her.

Linda was actively involved in her daughter’s softball teams over the years, coaching and working in the concessions at the ballpark with Vinita Youth Recreation. When her daughter started school in Vinita, Linda began substitute teaching with Vinita Public Schools and did this for several years. When her grandson Parker was in school, she greatly enjoyed picking him up from school and spending time with him after school. Linda was a proud member of the Cherokee Nation. She attended church during Jennifer’s childhood at Church of the Nazarene, and in later years she attended at First Church of God, both in Vinita.

Linda had a great love for her pets, enjoying various kinds of cats and dogs throughout the years. She also had a passion for flowers, loved sitting in her yard, and loved the color red. She had a love for Ford Mustangs with her first one being purchased while she was in college by her father who loved Ford products as well. She owned several Ford Mustangs over the years with her last one being red, her favorite color.

Linda is preceded in passing by her parents, Curtis and Doris Hoover.

Those cherishing Linda’s memory include her daughter Jennifer (Berry) McElhaney and her husband Joshua of Grove, her grandsons Parker Shaffer and Cooper McElhaney, granddaughter Mackenzie McElhaney, two aunts Sue Sloan, of Houston, TX and Anita Hoover of Coarsegold, CA, Jennifer’s father Tom Berry, along with numerous cousins and extended family.

Visitation will be on Monday, January 27, 2025, from 5-7 PM at Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral Home in Vinita.

Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Will Bush officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Vinita.

Casketbearers will be Parker Shaffer, Joshua McElhaney, Ryan Schneidler and Cooper McElhaney.

Online condolences may be left at www.highsmithfh.com or on our funeral home Facebook page. Arrangements are under the care of Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral & Cremation Services. “Vinita’s only locally owned and operated funeral home.”