Linda M Mooring

Linda M. Mooring, 75, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, Oct 25th, 2018. Linda was a strong and amazing woman that loved deeply, was deeply loved in return, is missed and will always be cherished. Our “Oma” as she liked to be called by her grandchildren was a devoted wife, mom, daughter, and outstanding cook. With her hair and nails done and a big smile for everyone, she shined so bright.

Linda’s adventure started in southern California as the adopted daughter of Hazel Dahl. She spent her childhood riding horses with Roy Rogers’ daughter. She graduated high school from Canoga Park High and began working at a bank. She met her first husband, “Bud” Douglas Bates (deceased) and had a son, Derek.

She moved to Oregon in 1979 to be closer to her mom who had moved to the Applegate. In December, her youngest, Amber, was born and her love affair with her family began.

She endured tragedy when her husband was killed in a car accident in 1983. She exemplified strength and grace raising two kids while working two jobs. She kept a roof over their heads and food on the table. Most of all, she found little ways to bring joy to her children’s daily lives through it all. Trips to the park, a slushy while shopping at the local K-Mart, or something to make you feel like you were her whole world. You never saw her sweat.

Linda’s life, and her children’s, were changed for the better when she met and married “Denny” (Frank) Mooring in November of 1984. Together, they built a life devoted to each other and family. They spent summers in Brookings camping with the kids, dogs, cats, family and friends and winter breaks snowmobiling at Diamond Lake.

She loved and adored Denny, her husband. They were best friends who often found time to talk to each when he got home from work and prepared for evening chores. They often read the weekend paper together enjoying coffee and watching CBS Sunday Morning. They were a team. Together they created a loving home with so many experiences for their children.

Linda was the ultimate soccer mom, before soccer moms were a thing. She would have a snack or dinner ready for her kids when running from a school activity to a sports practice. Her kids could always hear her on the sideline and she never missed a game, ever. On long soccer trips to Portland she was known to bring a blender to prepare virgin daquiri’s for kids and regular one’s for the parents as they would all arrive at the hotel, which became a second home on weekends.

She often nurtured and loved through food. She would always prepare coolers full of food for her son and husband for their opening weekend hunting trips. This often made them preferred deer camp mates. She often loved making favorite meals for birthdays and contributed her famous ham to many holiday meals.

She adored her grandchildren, Trenton and Karsyn Bates. She was exceedingly proud of Trenton and his decision to join the Army as a helicopter repairer and will be one fierce guardian angel. She enjoyed seeing Karsyn, age 3, come into her own. As her only granddaughter, Linda adored Karsyn’s vibrant, spunky personality. She saw very early on that Karsyn would set the world on fire.

She loved animals and was known to pick up stray dogs that would become her best friends. There was always a dog, a cat, a horse, a gerbil or a fish in the family. It didn’t matter the animal, it just mattered that they were safe, warm, fed and loved.

She was so proud of her husband, children and grandchildren. She was their #1 fan and cheerleader. She would beam with pride with every new story when she saw friends and family around town. You knew she loved you by the way she talked to you and about you to others. She always made sure to say, “I love you” during every phone call or conversation and had the warmest hugs.

She instilled her grit in her children and grandchildren by encouraging them through tough school work, hard practices, and the bumps and bruises of life. In her death, she was still teaching everyone that you never quit, you never give up; you continue with love and grace (and great hair and nails) through it all.

Loved ones that cleared the path for Linda are her mother Hazel (Dahl) Beard, former husband “Bud” (Douglas) Bates, mother-in-law Thelma Mooring, and sister-in-law Judy (Mooring) Worsham, and favorite dog Barney (and countless other pets). Loved ones that will miss Linda until they meet again are her husband “Denny” (Frank) Mooring; her son and daughter-in-law Derek Bates and Michele (Trautman) Bates; daughter and soon to be son-in-law Amber Bates and Perry Orr; grandchildren Trenton Bates and Karsyn Bates; sister-in-law and husband Ginny (Mooring) Buck and Dan Buck; brother-in-law and wife Walter Mooring and Rae and countless friends and her last rescue and best friend, he dog, Murphy.

A celebration of her life will be held 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Perl Funeral Home, 2100 Siskiyou Boulevard, Medford, Oregon, 97504. Reception to follow.

She would welcome flowers or a donation in her name to the Humane Society of Jackson County (or an animal shelter of your choosing) or the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation.

Perl Funeral Home & Siskiyou Memorial Park

2100 Siskiyou Blvd

Medford, OR 97504