Linda LoRee Hiser, 77, passed from this life on November 3, 2020, at
Morton County Hospital in Elkhart, KS. Linda was born December 15, 1942,
in Liberal, KS, the only child of Lloyd Homer and Ada Viola Fowler
Hiser. Linda was the granddaughter of two early pioneer families in the
area, Charley A. and Tamer Ella Fowler and George and Luella Hiser.
Linda’s childhood was spent on a farm about halfway between Guymon, OK
and Elkhart, KS. She had many pet dogs, her special horse, Jip, and
chickens. One year Linda was able to participate in part of the annual
Point of Rocks Trail Riders journey to Guymon. She was a farm girl and
loved living in the country with the wide open spaces and beautiful
sunrises and sunsets. She also loved to go fishing with the family on
the weekends, usually at Lake Carl Etling or Clayton Lake. In her adult
years, Linda had many faithful animal companions also. Her special dogs,
Chai and Sunday Mae, were an important part of Linda’s life. Linda
took over the management of the family farm after her father’s death and
was still involved with running the family business at the time of her
passing.
Education began for Linda in the Guymon Public schools where she spent
12 years. After graduation from Guymon High School in 1960, Linda
continued her education at Panhandle A & M College in Goodwell,
graduating in 1964 with a degree in Business Administration. Linda
became a high school teacher and taught English and Business classes for
6 years in the schools at Weskan, Norcatur and Jennings, KS. Linda
furthered her education at Fort Hays University earning a Master’s
degree in Business Education in 1970.
Family history was of special interest for Linda and her Mother and
they spent several years traveling to various states and going to the
courthouses to find the actual records and original documents that
related to their family genealogy. Linda had an amazing knowledge of the
family history going back several generations and frequently informed
other family members of the family stories and people that were in the
family ancestry.
Seeing new places and traveling to far off lands was in Linda’s blood.
Her ancestors had moved frequently to various locations and Linda felt
her desire to travel came about naturally. While Linda’s Mother was
still living, they traveled to Hawaii, Niagara Falls, the Pacific
Northwest, and several countries in Europe. This was in addition to all
the exploring around the United States that they had done in their
genealogical travel searches.
After Linda lost her father, Linda continued to take many exciting
trips and learned much about the cultures and customs of many different
countries. Linda was able to explore and enjoy many trips with Dr.
Perido and his wife and friends. Their travels took them to Antarctica,
South America, Canada, Egypt, Australia, Europe and other countries.
Many adventures and travels also were made with Linda’s cousins,
Donnita and Gary Wilson and LaVern Daniluk. The group traveled to Europe
and took a couple of river cruises through Hungary, Germany, Austria,
Czech Republic, Slovakia and Luxembourg. Linda was also able to tour
France including Normandy where she was thanked as an American for
defending France during WWII by the grateful French citizens. Linda
really enjoyed visiting Paris and Prague. Other adventures took Linda
to Alaska. Through Linda’s years of travel she was able to experience
and travel to each continent except the Arctic.
The Elkhart community and Texas County, OK were home for Linda. After
moving back to the Oklahoma Panhandle in the 1970’s, Linda became a
member of the Friendly Neighbors Home Extension Club. She later joined
the Coterie Club and loved being a member and the fun of being one of
the Red Hat Ladies. She was also involved with the Elkhart Chamber of
Commerce. Linda loved baseball and was one of the Elkhart Dusters most
ardent fans.
Linda was a faithful member of the First Christian Church in Elkhart.
Declining health kept her from attending as much as she wanted in her
last few years.
Linda is survived by first cousins Ella Durham, Donnita Wilson, LaVern
Daniluk, Ruth Harrington, Pearl Turner, Linda Taylor, Marjorie Stritzke
and Lois Luellen. She was preceded in death by her Father and Mother,
many aunts and uncles – Lenora Ferguson, Bertha Fowler, Wardie Fowler,
Austin Fowler, Mattie Fowler, Lillian Pugh, Harold Fowler, Maude Kyte
and Everett Hiser. She was also preceded in death by many first cousins
– Charlie Ferguson, Glen Ferguson, George Ferguson, Jr, Alice Cooper,
Mary Hill, LeRoy Ferguson, Paul Fowler, Wayne Fowler, Oneta Underwood,
Alice Willis, Kenneth Fowler, Lonnie Fowler, Leonard Fowler, Homer
Fowler, David Pugh, Vernon Kyte, Marcella Vanergriffe, Margaret Crafts,
and Ada Kyte.
Funeral service for Linda will be held at the First Christian Church in
Elkhart, Kansas, with Pastor Jim Cunningham officiating on Monday,
November 9, 2020, at 2:00 pm. Funeral service may also be viewed on
Garnand Funeral Home Facebook Live. Interment will follow at the
Elkhart Cemetery. Visitation will be at Garnand Funeral Home on Sunday,
November 8, 2020, from 2:00 pm until 6:00 pm.
Linda has asked that memorial donations be made to the following organizations; Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Morton County Historical Society Museum, Morton County Library, or Oklahoma Panhandle State University Rodeo Program in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.