Linda Susan Parks, aged 69, of Vienna, Missouri, peacefully passed away on March 10, 2025, in Rolla, Missouri. Born on October 19, 1955, to Peter and Betty (Lodge) Hartley in Leeds, England, Linda’s vibrant spirit touched the lives of those she met.
Growing up in the Rawdon area of Leeds, Linda attended Benton Park School, where her love for the arts began to blossom. In 1981, she embarked on a new adventure, moving to the United States with her three children, Vanessa, Oliver, and Jordan. Settling in Missouri, Linda called Houston, Bourbon, and Lake Ozark home, leaving a trail of memories and friendships.
Linda was a gifted artist and gardener, her hands crafting stories, poems, and colorful flower beds, while her brush and pencil brought to life images of Native Americans, mermaids, wildlife, and the beauty of nature, many of which she sold at Bass Pro Shops in the 1980s. Her home was a gallery of her creativity, adorned with her own artwork and a treasure trove of collectibles from her many antique shopping adventures.
A woman of many talents, Linda worked at Brown Shoe and Arlee Home Fashions in Houston, and for years, enjoyed socializing as a sales representative for Home Interior and Avon. Her caring nature led her to become a CNA, where she provided compassionate care in group homes for the intellectually handicapped and in nursing homes around mid-Missouri. Her entrepreneurial spirit later flourished as she opened her own antique shops, proudly owning White Buffalo Antiques in St. Clair and Skyrak 44 Antiques in Bourbon, before retiring in 2013.
Linda’s charming English accent and witty sense of humor made her an unforgettable presence, and she effortlessly made friends wherever she went. Her humor was infectious, and her love for socializing brought laughter to those around her.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Betty. She leaves behind four children: Angel Farrell of Brighton, England; Vanessa (Joel Wald) Whittle of Vienna, Missouri; Oliver (Andrea) Amick of Houston, Missouri; and Jordan Amick of Houston, Missouri. Her eight grandchildren, Sara (Dalton) Price, Delanie (Jacob) Cruise, Lucas (Brooke Henry) Lambeth, Nigel Amick, Liliana (Andrew Pierce) Amick, Phoenix Amick, Clementine Amick, and Montgomery Amick, and great-granddaughters Adalyn Price and the soon-to-arrive Ellie Lambeth, will cherish her memory. Linda is also survived by her sister Jackie (Allan) Sample and nieces Vicki (Phil) Harrison and Rachel (Stephen) Plunkett, all residing in West Yorkshire, England; and half-sister, Judith Camsell of Queensland, Australia.
A private family memorial gathering will be held at a later date, with plans to return Linda’s remains to her beloved England. In lieu of flowers, donations are warmly welcomed to the Alzheimer’s Association or The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long Term Care.
