Linda Frances (Jones) Floyd, 98, joined many of her beloved family members in their eternal home on March 4, 2026, after a diagnosis of kidney failure. Born March 2, 1928, to Aaron and Eunice (Richmond) Jones in Centerville, Arkansas, she was a pillar of the Poteau community for 69 years.During her long life, Linda held many roles—dutiful daughter, older sister to David, Hayden, and Judy, wife to Sherman, mother to Toni, John and Bob, grandmother to Scott and Michael, great-grandmother to Brennan, Micah and Garrett, adored aunt and sister-in-law, supportive coach’s wife, beloved elementary school teacher for 31 years, active member of Poteau First Baptist Church and Delta Kappa Gamma. Her kind heart and gentle spirit made her a cherished mentor and friend to those who were generations younger. It was not uncommon for former kindergarten and first grade students at Hower Elementary, where she taught from 1955-1986, to visit her, even after she and her sons moved to Oklahoma City in 2019, to be closer to her grandchildren.

Linda graduated as salutatorian of Dardanelle High School in 1945 and followed her dream to become a nurse. She enrolled in Sparks School of Nursing in Ft. Smith that September. As a cadette nurse, Linda had room, board, and earned a little “pocket money” in exchange for working shifts at the hospital. In January 1946, she met a handsome GI who had just finished his tour of duty in WWII. She and Sherman married on March 6, 1946, and Linda traded her nursing dream for a family, as nursing students couldn’t marry in those days.

Even though she wanted a nursing career, Linda loved being an educator. She earned Bachelor and Master of Education degrees. In 1985, she was the District Teacher of the Year and served as state president of Delta Kappa Gamma International from 2001-2003. A life-long Pirate booster, Linda sat in the same place at the south end of the bleachers for each high school football game. Even after her husband, Coach Floyd, died she continued to attend games. She sang in the Cavanal Chorale and the First Baptist Church choirs, where she was a frequent soloist. She volunteered in countless capacities at church and her family joked she was there whenever the door was open.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband Sherman, children Toni Thompson, Bob Floyd and John Floyd. She is survived by two grandsons, Scott (Heather) Thompson, Michael (Stephanie) Thompson; son-in-law, Mick (Peggy) Thompson, a great-granddaughter, Micah Thompson, two great-grandsons, Brennan and Garrett Thompson, all of Edmond, OK; two sisters-in-law, Donna Dee Floyd of Dallas and Susan Gassaway of Chickasha, OK and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Memorial Service for Linda Frances Floyd, 98 of Edmond, Oklahoma will be at 1:00 PM on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at First Baptist Church in Poteau, Oklahoma. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Poteau, Oklahoma under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home of Poteau, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to: The Linda Floyd Scholarship Fund, CASA Development Office, 1507 South McKenna, Poteau, OK 74953

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