Linda Elaine Waggoner

Linda Elaine Dunkin Waggoner, 80, entered into eternal rest on Monday, October 2, 2023. She was born February 16, 1943, in Raymondville, TX, to Larance Everett Dunkin and Fay Sylvia Jones Dunkin.

Linda grew up in Lyford, Texas, alongside her sister, brothers and her many cousins. She always spoke of the fond times they enjoyed. She treasured the memories of her mother and grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa Jones. She spoke of them daily. She attended Lyford High School and was a Lyford Bulldog Cheerleader and also played varsity basketball. Linda married her high school sweetheart, Jackie Waggoner who attended a rival school, Raymondville High School. The couple had 5 children. They along with her husband were her life’s work. She was a Cub Scout leader, Member of the Lyford Band Boosters, becoming Vice President. Linda attended Lyford First Methodist Church her whole life. She taught Sunday School and was involved in many plays and programs, including Summer Bible School. She spent many hours driving her children to practices, games, classes and events. She did this for 28 years, from her first child to her last. However, she wasn’t finished yet, because soon came grandchildren which she was very instrumental in their upbringing. You would often see her sitting with one of them, talking and laughing, at that moment being the most important person to her. Later on, through the years you would see her rocking a great or great great-grandchild and truly enjoying their company. She had a special friendship with her sister-in-law Betty Dunkin. The two of them, along with her sister Neila, spent many mornings and evenings having coffee and plotting, who knows what. She had many nieces and nephews who she loved as her own. Linda had many friends, among them were Yolanda Loya Perez, Tommy Martin and Thelma Coleman. She also often had teatime with her neighbor and good friend Norma Lofton. Her family, extended family and friends were very important to her. The love of her life was her husband, Jackie. They were very dedicated to each other. You would often hear her calling “Jackie”, which was among her last spoken words. She was loved, so much! She will never be forgotten. Her legacy is her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great-grandchildren. She will rest easy knowing her work is done, and done well.

She is survived by her loving husband, Jackie Wayne Waggoner, her sons, Wesley Dean Waggoner (Tina), Mark Douglas Waggoner (Vicki), and Steven Bradley Waggoner (Mary), her daughters, Terrye Lynn Santana (Norberto), and Wendy Diane Perez (Chuy), her brother, Hugh Allen Dunkin, her sister, Neila Rae Webster, her grandchildren, Priscilla Lopez, Cassie Malm, Henry Anderson IV., Audrey Burkett, Wesley Waggoner Jr., Jaclyn Anderson, Maegan Chavez, Johnathon Waggoner, Jake Waggoner, Valerie Waggoner, Marina Castro, Nicolas Perez, Viviana Perez, Jared Waggoner, Marley Perez, and Jack Perez. She is also survived by her great grandchildren, Haley Lopez, Denise Diaz, Alexander Macias, Julian Anderson, William Anderson, Henry Anderson, Joseph Macias, Kaeylie Burkett, Oliver Anderson, Jayse Burkett, Trevric Castro, Lucy Waggoner, Eli Demmer, Magnolia Demmer, Everet Castro, Sofia Perez, Elena Chavez, and Maeve Waggoner, and her great great-grandchildren, Isabella Cantu, Fayelyn Cantu, and Vicente Cantu.

She is proceeded in her death by her parents, Larance Everett Dunkin, and Fay Sylvia Jones Dunkin, and her brother, Billy Everett Dunkin.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, from 3 P.M. until 9 P.M. and resumed on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at Good Shepherd Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 10 A.M. at First Methodist Church in Lyford. Interment will follow to her final place of rest at the Lyford Evergreen Cemetery.

Honored to serve as Pallbearers were Henry Anderson IV, Johnathon Waggoner, Jake Waggoner, Nicolas Perez, Jared Waggoner and Jack Perez. Honorary pallbearers were Julian Anderson, Alexander Macias, William Anderson, Henry Anderson, Joseph Macias, and Oliver Anderson.  

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the caring hands of Good Shepherd Funeral Home, 1157 W. Hidalgo Ave., Raymondville, TX 78580.

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