Linda Lee Hyatt passed away at her home in Rush Center, Kansas on September 15, 2025. She was born July 13, 1943, in Bath County, Virginia, one of four children born to John Andrew and Evelyn Venetta Beck. She enjoyed and loved growing up and working on the large family farm raising chickens, turkeys, beef cattle, and participating in the various activities of farm life. At age 17 she moved with her family to St Petersburg, Florida where she graduated from high school. After graduation she moved to Maryland and worked for NASA. While in Maryland she met missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was soon baptized a member where she loved, embraced and served faithfully in her church the remainder of her life.
After meeting the love of her life and eternal companion to be, Chester Blaine Hyatt, and dating for ten days, they were sealed together for time and all eternity in a Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St George, Utah on September 24, 1966. She started her family life in Parowan, Utah. She had a great love for learning and pursued her education soon after her marriage attending Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah where she received her bachelor’s degree in 1970 with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Music and Child Development. In 1981 she received her master’s degree from Utah State University with a major in Elementary Education and an emphasis on Early Childhood Education. In 1994 she received her doctorate degree from Walden University, majoring in Educational Administration with emphasis on Special Education and Gifted Education.
While in Parowan, Utah she owned and operated a private academic preschool. In 1990 she and her family moved to Eureka, Nevada where she worked in the following capacities: Director of Special Education Services, Assistant Administrator to Superintendent, and Gifted Education Teacher, Due Process Hearing Officer for the State of Nevada, Adjunct Professor of Graduate Studies for Southern Utah University, Advisor and Coordinator for graduate students in northeastern Nevada for Southern Utah University, English, Music and History teacher and Outreach Coordinator for Great Basin College. In 2001 she moved to Hays, Kansas to teach at Fort Hays State University where she concluded her career as a professor in 2016. She published numerous professional articles, authored and co-authored several books.
The most important and cherished things in her life were her family and church for which she sacrificed and gave selfless service through her life. She taught classes and served in leadership positions in her church and felt one of the greatest blessings was the opportunity to serve as a temple worker in the Kansas City, Missouri temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She is survived by her husband C. Blaine Hyatt of Rush Center, Kansas; Children: Sandi Hyatt of Hopkinsville, Kentucky; Dr. Andrew B. Hyatt (Clarice) of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; John Benjamin Hyatt (Sarah) of LaCrosse, Kansas; and James C. Hyatt (Abby) of Hays, Kansas. 11 grandchildren and two great grandsons.
Funeral Services will be Monday September 22, 2025, at 11:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2901 Canal Boulevard Hays, Kansas 67601. Viewing and Visitation will be on Sunday September 21, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory - Brock's Chapel, 2509 Vine Street Hays, Kansas 67601, and on Monday from 10:00 AM until service time at the Church. Interment will follow the services on Monday in Locust Hill Cemetery - Rush Center, Kansas at 2:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the General Missionary Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (please make checks payable to Missionary Fund) in care of the Funeral Chapel.
Services in care of: Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory - Brock's Chapel, 2509 Vine Street Hays, Kansas 67601.