Linda Kay Deford

Linda Kay DeFord was born on September 13, 1949 in Houston, Texas, and died July 02, 2022 in Cleveland, Texas, at 73 years of age. She was born Linda Kay Ehrigson, the late-in-life only child of Walter David Ehrigson and Grace Irene Kraus. Linda was the “Apple of her Daddy’s Eye!” She married David L. DeFord on June 21, 1975 in Harris County, Texas, and they divorced on May 08, 1990 in Austin, Texas. Linda grew up in the Houston Heights, attended Reagan High School, and was a drummer in the Red Coats, a drum & bugle corp. She graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1971 majoring in History & Education. Linda started her teaching career at Splendora Junior High. Several years later she moved to Splendora High School teaching history, English, and German. Linda was also National Honor Society sponsor for many years. Her love of history was evident in the way she made history come alive to her students. Linda influenced many of her students and one even became a junior high history teacher using Linda’s style of teaching! Linda loved Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Victorian era, tea pots and tea cups, and baseball, especially the Houston Astros.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents Walter David Ehrigson & Grace Irene Kraus, her paternal grandparents Wilhelm & Bertha Ehrigson, and her maternal grandparents Wilhelm & Leila Bell Hartmann Kraus. She is survived by her former colleagues and students of Splendora High School, who loved her and will cherish their memories of her.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 10, 2022, in the Pace-Stancil Chapel from 1-2pm. Funeral Service will begin at 2pm with Dr. Greg Smith officiating. Burial will be Monday, July 11, 2022, in the Shelby Cemetery at 10am with Rev. James McMillan officiating. Pallbearers for the service will be, Wallace Gibbs, Mike Futrell, Dan Muirhead, Ron McGuire, Walter Duke, and David Kennedy.