Linda Darlene Markel, 83, was born in Sikeston, Missouri in 1942 to Anita and Stanley Woods. Both she and her older brother Norman Woods (Bonnie) were graduates of Murray State University. Linda was a teacher in Sikeston before moving all around the midwest with her loving husband David F. Markel. They were married for 35 years.
The pair had two children, Dr. Matthew D. (Traci) Markel. Judy L. (Dave) Ellison. They enjoyed scuba diving all over the world and eventually both reached the title of Dive Master. Their favorite places to travel for scuba diving were Bonaire and Hawaii. Linda’s favorite title however was Mom to her children and Nana to her grandchildren Jonathan (Alexis) Ellison and Arianna (Gavin) Brockmeyer. She was the great grandmother to Nolan and Olive Ralston, and Oaklee Ellison. She was a lover of all animals, land and sea.
Linda will always be remembered for her lively spirit and love of sweets and her sincere and strong faith in the Lord and her perseverance. She knew she would be going to spend eternity with Christ after this life. She was surrounded by her loving family in her fi nal moments. We will miss her every day, and her memory will live on in the hearts of all those who knew her and loved her.
Linda will always be remembered for her pursuit of learning. Throughout her life she continued to learn and grow, starting with earning a bachelor’s degree at a time when that was far from the norm for a woman from rural Missouri. She continued this by learning how to fi x nearly everything in the house, becoming an extremely skilled cake and confectionary decorator, and learning to scuba dive.
Linda was preceded in death by Anita and Stanley Woods, Norman Woods, and her husband David Markel. The service will be at Kutis Funeral Home on August 30, 2025 at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations to the deGreeff Hospice House would be greatly appreciated.