Leatha Jean Linville

Leatha Jean Linville, 70, of Bartlesville, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Friday, October 31, 2024. Leatha was born January 31, 1954, in Wittier, California, to Junior H. and Lela C. (Roddy) McConnell. She attended high school in Byng, OK, and then later furthered her education at Rogers State University, earning her associate’s degree in accounting. Leatha was employed for the State of Oklahoma as an office manager at Osage Hills State Park for 21 years. It was at Osage Hills where she met the love of her life, Alan Leroy Linville, who volunteered as a firefighter. Leatha married Alan on April 12, 2004, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The couple enjoyed traveling, shopping at junk stores, and going to Canton, TX, to seek treasures. As a large family, they enjoyed going to amusement parks, where Leatha braved the rides with the children. She enjoyed crafting, quilting, sewing, crocheting and canning vegetables. In her younger years, Leatha loved doing ceramics and painting with her mother, Lela. Leatha was a hard worker for her entire life. Her job history includes working at a concrete factory and as a truck driver. She was also the first female EMT in the city of Marlow, OK. Family was the most important thing in Leatha’s life. She was present for all her grandchildren’s births and special events, even when they were many, many miles away. She could be counted on when needed. She was ALWAYS there. She was present at the NICU after the birth of her premature grandchildren and at the hospital when her grandchildren were injured. While her son Jason was deployed overseas, Leatha sent packages to him to bless the impoverished children in his deployment region. She also sent many care packages to him throughout his numerous deployments. She continued sending care packages to her grandson Heath while he was deployed. Many military personnel enjoyed her gifts. Leatha absolutely loved the Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays. She always had a wall of Christmas stockings. Each person’s stocking was different. She collected Santa Claus figurines, and she enjoyed searching for new ones. Every room in her house would be decorated with a Christmas tree. Leatha’s loving children have many fond memories of their mother, including a funny time when she got a green apple Jolly Rancher stuck in her teeth right after having dental surgery. She was afraid of scorpions, and Jason used that knowledge to keep Leatha out of his bedroom as a teenager by stationing a scorpion ball at the door of his bedroom. So many memories richly bless this large family. Leatha is survived by her loving husband, Alan, of the Bartlesville home; six children, JJ Caldwell and wife Danya of Purcell, OK, Tosha Williams and husband Chris of Coffeyville, KS, Jason Caldwell and wife Andrea of Richland, NC, Kevin Linville and wife Kaylen of Skiatook, Jeff Linville and wife Dena of Havanna, KS, and Jessica Linville of Havanna, KS; four siblings, Tim McConnell and wife Robin of Ada, OK, Terri Prewitt of Ada, OK, Todd McConnell of Ada, OK, and Tracy McConnell of Moore, OK; 13 grandchildren, Wesley Kimmel, Bryce Kimmel, Heath Williams, Jaklyn Williams, Jordyn Williams, Taylor Winsett, Alyssa Caldwell, Joshua Caldwell, Rylie Caldwell, KJ Linville, Kynlee Linville, Amos Linville, and Grayson Linville; five great-grandchildren, Tatum, Dahlia, Laila Williams of Clarksville, Tennessee, and Atticus and Sylvia Kimmel of Berryhill, OK. She was preceded in death by her parents, Junior and Lela McConnell; a son, Sterling Caldwell; grandchildren, Landon Caldwell and Hannah Caldwell. Leatha’s family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, November 7, 2024, at Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel, 4201 Nowata Road, Bartlesville, OK 74006,918-333-7665. Visitation will also be held that same day from 10-8. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, November 8, 2024, at Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Interment will follow at South Heights Cemetery in Sapulpa, OK. Arrangements are under the direction of Carter Davis and Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Leatha Jean Linville

January 31, 1954 - October 31, 2024