Linda AKA Meek Passed Away This morning

[T. Clayton]

Like many here I'm so deeply saddened at the loss of this kind and lovely lady.  And like so many here who "knew" Linda she and I never met face to face but have written over many, many years.  Her wonderful letters always flashed with humour, common sense and what the Irish call good "craic".  Along with an abiding love of the visual arts and classic horror films, Linda was always brimming with some artistic plan or other, forwarding scans of projects and laughing over the mishaps that seem to come with any creative endeavour.  Her enthusiastic knowledge encompassed everthing from paintings to poetry, Karloff, Lugosi and Chaney.  She was a highly intelligent woman who loved learning.  Linda was particularly gifted with an encyclopedic knowledge of medieval English history and relished anything to do with two particular pals of her (whom I trust are taking good care of our "Meek")- Richard III and her great hero T.E. Lawrence.  Like all of her friends here I will miss her more than words can say but her family can be so proud of a woman who touched the lives of so many.   May God bless and keep her - I'd like her family and friends to know that candles will be lighted specially in St. Faith's Chapel, Westminster Abbey in Linda's memory later this year.  Richard III's queen lies nearby.  I think she'd like that.

Regards to all.

Tatiana Clayton

[poseablemonster]

That's a beautiful and fitting tribute to her memory.

[fmofmpls]

Well, it's been one week ago today that Meek left us, and I'm slowly beginning to accept the fact that she's not going to be posting here anymore. And that's a huge loss for everyone. But you know what? She's still here in spirit, and if she were here right now, she'd most likely tell all of us to get on with it already. That's easier said than done Meek. We miss you a great deal. But we will begin to heal, and with that, move forward with our daily business here .. whatever that is.

I turned 46 yrs old today. Last night, with family at my side, I blew out a birthday candle in memory of Meek. It was a strange form of closure for me.

We will march onward, because Meek would have it no other way.

[Illoman]

Well, it's been one week ago today that Meek left us, and I'm slowly beginning to accept the fact that she's not going to be posting here anymore. And that's a huge loss for everyone. But you know what? She's still here in spirit, and if she were here right now, she'd most likely tell all of us to get on with it already. That's easier said than done Meek. We miss you a great deal. But we will begin to heal, and with that, move forward with our daily business here .. whatever that is.

I turned 46 yrs old today. Last night, with family at my side, I blew out a birthday candle in memory of Meek. It was a strange form of closure for me.

We will march onward, because Meek would have it no other way.

All that needs to be added to that is "Amen!"

Mike

[ChrisW]

What a shock. I hadn't been viewing or posting here because i've been busy on projects. I couldn't believe it when our friend Harry Hammock called last night and told me.
She was very gifted and a pleasure to correspond with. I marveled at her Shakespeare chair and all the images she posted of her art.
May she meet all the people who have loved and inspired her, and gone on before her.
My condolences to her family and friends.

Chris

[kolchak4ever]

I'm so saddened to hear of her passing. Through tears a prayer goes to her family and friends. She was one of a kind and will be dearly missed.

[Illoman]

I just received this email this morning, and thought I'd pass it along:

On Saturday, October 18th from 1-3 pm there will be an open house celebration of
the life of Linda Miller at the Spirit Lake Public Library at 702 16th Street in
Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360.  Samples of Linda's art work will be on display and
refreshments will be served.  We are pleased to honor this 25-year library
employee and friend.

If you have any of Linda's art work you would be willing to share or if you are
interested in helping with refreshments, please contact us at slpublib(*at*)ncn.net.

Thanks.

Linda Bolluyt
Library Director
712-336-2667

Mike

[capt.hendry51]

Good job Illoman. I wish I could be there myself, But I guess I'll have to be there in spirit.  Best wishes to everyone who attends and celebrates the life of this incredible lady.

[The Muted One]

I'm just a lurker mostly, but got this message and can not believe the news. There is nothing to say except she will be missed. TV listings, artwork, humor, wit, the gamut, she and her postings ARE the heart of the UMA.

T.M.O.

[packy120353]

Linda would be 49 today Happy Birthday Meek we miss you   -

[JohnBolesGal]

Hi everyone!
I know I am rather new to this forum and Linda had been encouraging me to join for such a long time - I can now see why. The outpouring for Linda has been enormous and I have relayed it on to her mother. I am the one who received the ominous call and had to pass the news on. Imagine my shock when I received the call from Mrs. Reed at work. It was the worst news I could have ever received. I am very sorry all of you had to find out via post and would have loved to have phoned all of you who were close to Linda, but that was just not possible. Someone had asked about the financial status of Mrs. Reed, Linda's mother. I believe her mother had the finances for the funeral (well the showing and burial) for she said thank god for credit cards. However from that it is hard to tell. I do know that Linda drove her mother everywhere (as many of you can attest to her e-mails - sitting in the parking lot of the local Wal-Mart while her mother was shopping, etc). So she relied on Linda to take her places. Linda left everything to her mother so I think she will be OK. Friends have said they will take her places she needs to go which is a comfort. I will be calling her tonight and will give you her update.

Linda as you all have stated was a wonderful, giving person with a sarcastic wit unrivaled by anyone (except maybe the Pythons themselves) and one who had a zest for culture, life and people. When I went to London and Russia 3 years ago I bought her some Mr. Bean magnets which she loved and some Russian chocolate. Her reply was "The Russians sure didn't learn to make chocolate from the Germans.." A thought that cracks me up to this day. Recently I was back in Russia and bought her a matryoshka doll of which I hadn't a chance to send her. Now I will send it to Mrs. Reed. I too received mystery packages from Linda. Knowing how much I loved The Beatles, Linda sent me a calendar that I have been using this year along with a book on the Making of Yellow Submarine. This last January she sent me a book by Hallmark for my birthday that was about Monster Movies and she inscribed it "For Kristin, who has a fondness for monsters." She forgot to put the card in the package and sent it separately. The card was "Here's your stool softener lady" with a pharmacist handing a package to a lady (all of the 1950's style). The lady replies "Do you think you could say it any louder? I don't think they heard you in the parking lot!" She said that it was a sign of old age that she forgot to put it in. We always sent each other Halloween packages of which I will continue to do for her mother.

I love your idea of Bunches of Hunches and if you need me to talk to her mother about her collection, please contact me. I would be glad to help.

I am sure Linda is looking down smiling and realizing how much she was adored and loved and as someone said before that this is a better world for having had Linda in it.

A new recruit,
Kristin in Toledo, OH.

[typhooforme]

Kristin, I'm very glad you joined us here.  Linda would have considered your arrival at the UMA door a grand birthday gift, indeed!  And thank you VERY much for news of Mrs. Reed--we were worried about her, and this surely makes us feel better. 

[poseablemonster]

Welcome, Kristen.  And happy birthday, Meek.

[JohnBolesGal]

Kristin, I'm very glad you joined us here.  Linda would have considered your arrival at the UMA door a grand birthday gift, indeed!  And thank you VERY much for news of Mrs. Reed--we were worried about her, and this surely makes us feel better. 

Sargent Sir,

:)You are very welcome. I will keep all of you posted. I am glad I can help and thank you for the kind welcome. I look forward to talking with those I already know (Max, Frank, etc) and those of you who I don't.

Thought I would tell you all something else. Len Kohl and I have been working on a book on Chandu the Magician and Linda was instrumental in the making of this book. She encouraged me to take on a pipe dream I had and even put me in contact with Mr. Ray Bradbury - he agreed to do the Introduction. Just this year she did a wonderful picture for the Introduction and the book should be out by end of year. Len and I have therefore decided to dedicate the book to Linda and will send copies to her mother and to the Spirit Lake Iowa Library of which she loved.

Here is something I thought all of you would enjoy. My last pic I ever took of Linda...

Kristin

[typhooforme]

Photos of Linda are so rare--thanks for sharing that funny Bill Hinzman moment! 

The CHANDU book, dedicated to Meek--she would be so intensely pleased.  I don't think Lennie is a member here (maybe some day!), but if you will, please tell him--and I speak as an Elder here--that we are very happy that your book will be dedicated to Meek.  We've learned so much more about Meek than we ever knew--though I think many of us suspected that she was a very quiet but very intense influence in many people's lives.