Fern Cliff Cemetery

Major County, Oklahoma

© Pierce Funeral Home
Submitted by: Terry Dudley

Linda Cheryl Shotwell Gunsaulis

Feb 13, 1949 - Aug 10, 2026

Linda Cheryl Shotwell Gunsaulis, 77, passed away on August 10, 2026 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Linda was born in Elk City, OK, February 13, 1949 to Eli and Sue (Word) Shotwell. Linda was brought home to meet her siblings, Shirley Sue, Joyce LaTrisha, Joe Dan Shotwell. She was the baby of the family.

Linda graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1967, from SWOSU with her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1973, and a Masters in Education in 1979 and became a Nationally board-certified teacher in 2000.

Linda was recognized with many honors along the way, such as being named the top Teacher in the Oklahoma Stock Market Games in 2000, Oklahoma's Outstanding Elementary Teacher of Social Studies in 2002 & the National Outstanding Elementary Teacher of Social Studies in 2003. She was named Teacher of the Year twice while teaching in Arnett as well as the Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma's Teacher of the Year. In 2009 she was named as Oklahoma's Supreme Court Teacher of the Year & in 2010, she was named Oklahoma's "Ag in the Classroom" Teacher of the Year.

Linda was involved in various education groups out of the classrooms. These include: Oklahoma Reading Association where she served as a state officer numerous times and served as President 2003-2004. Delta Kappa Gamma where she served as a local and state officer for over a decade.

Linda taught at Fargo, Arnett and ended her teaching career in Fairview after decades of teaching. She taught everything, including Home Economics, High School English, Jr High English & then found what she loved! Grade school is where her heart was. She taught, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th grades & was BETA Sponsor for many years. Mrs. G, is what her students so lovingly called her. If there was anything she loved more than teaching it was learning. Her motto was "A day without learning, was a day wasted!"

Linda began her career in teaching at Fargo in 1978. Linda met the love of her life, Darrell Gunsaulis in 1985. Darrell was the new principal & they met at the school picnic. After a short 4 month courtship, Darrell proposed. (according to Darrell she turned him down the first time!) They were married 5 months later on May 28, 1986, in Estes Park, CO.

Linda LOVED being a mom! There was something that she found that she loved even more,GRANDCHILDREN!! There was something about that name grandma that just made this woman glow. At grandma's you got to swim, ride the ATV, eat what you wanted to, etc. She had fun with the grandkids. She spoiled them rotten then sent them home. Not only was this fun, it was way easier than being the parent. She loved to host what she called a "Grandma's Day Out" every summer where she would get the grandkids together and plan a trip that usually also came with learning where they could be found tracking down dinosaur fossils, seeing movies or visiting a museum. She also prioritized getting school supplies with the grandkids where she would shop for her classroom while also helping find fun new things for the kids for the upcoming year.

She thought Christmas was the day that she had no rules for buying gifts for those grandkids. If grandad gave her rules, she must not have heard them! As for staying with grandma the only rule, no drinks on carpet until you are 16! Cali, being the youngest, couldn't wait. She never mentioned a drivers license, it was, I can drink in the living room at Grandma's! Lots of fun memories!

Darrell & Linda moved to the farm west of Fairview in 2005 & into their new home in 2006. This is where you could find her tending to flowers, feeding hummingbirds, reading, and enjoying their cattle and donkeys.

After they both retired from education they bought a motor home. They enjoyed traveling to grandkids events & being able to stay however long they wanted. They also went on several trips to The Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, & many other special places.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents, Eli & Sue Shotwell, Father & Mother-in-law, Howard & Nettie (Ake) Gunsaulis, two sisters, Shirley Patterson (John), Joyce Trammell (Bill, Sr.), nephews, Ricky Don Shotwell, Rocky Walker, Billy Trammell, Jr., niece, Renae Walker & bonus son, Clayton Barton.

Linda leaves behind her loving husband, Darrell; children Todd Atha (Ada), Arnett, OK, Tammy Kelln (Chris) Fargo, OK, Darinda Sellars (Randy) Augusta, GA & Dustin Gunsaulis (Shelby) Mustang, OK. Grandchildren; Kela Kelln, Madeline Kendall (Cody), Bradyn Sellars (MaKenli), Sarah Rose, (Tyrun), Ainsley Sellars, Duke Kelln, Brycen Gunsaulis (Ava), Isabella Sellars & Cali Wilson. Great-Grandchildren; Corina & CW Kendall & Brent Rose; along with a host of cousins & countless students, colleagues, & friends.

Linda's legacy is one of learning, generosity, joy, & love. She taught with passion, lived with purpose, & loved with her whole heart. Her influence will continue in every child she taught, every grandchild she cherished, & every life she touched.

Today, we honor her life, her lessons, & her love. Linda lived a life that mattered, & she will be deeply missed.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 17, 2026 at the Fairview First Baptist Church with Pastor Derek Cox officiating. Interment will follow at Fern Cliff Cemetery west of Fairview under the direction of Pierce Funeral Home, Fairview. Visitation with the family present will be from 6 - 8 p.m., Sunday, August 16, 2026 at Pierce Funeral Home, Fairview.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Fairview First Baptist Church or the Fairview School Educational Foundation with the funeral home serving as custodian at P.O. Box 15, Fairview, OK 73737. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.piercefuneralhomes.com.