Mrs. Linda Ellen Cubbage

Remembrance of Our Mother By Mary, Catherine, and “TL” Cubbage On June 4, 2016, our Mother, Linda Ellen Perkins Cubbage, left we three children, and her husband Tom, to be reunited with her loved ones lost, and to enter into the waiting arms of Jesus. Sadly, her life was shortened by an inexplicable primary brain tumor, but not before she had impressed decades of love, tolerance, forgiveness, nurturing, loyalty, good cheer and faith upon all her family and friends. While we do not understand God’s plan, we know his plan to put Linda, in her many roles as Daughter/Sweetheart/Sis/Mommy/Mom/Mimi in our lives was perfect. HIS plan for her started with a little girl born in East Orange, New Jersey to a home-maker and an art instructor on February 20, 1941. A happy child, she suffered from scarlet fever as a very young girl, and at the doctor’s advice, her parents returned to Oklahoma for the climate and cleaner air, where her father began a career as a commercial illustrator for Phillips Petroleum Company in Bartlesville. She had the beauty and fair complexion of her late mother, Mildred Mae Marks Perkins, and the creativity and quiet demeanor of her late father, Paul Love Perkins. Linda graduated from College High School in 1959 and wed Thomas Leon “Tom” Cubbage II in early 1962. They began married life in Norman as Tom attended law school. She didn’t aspire to a career and was rewarded instead with motherhood beginning in late 1962 with the arrival of a child, the first of three. Organized, industrious, clever and encouraging, Linda focused the next 23 years on her beautiful nest and its inhabitants, which always additionally included cats and dogs, the kids’ friends, books, great food, memorable birthday parties, and above all else unbounded love. She gave unselfishly of her time, driving services, elbow-grease, and artistic talent to innumerable school projects and the personal interests of her kids. Linda is remembered for her quick mind, big smile and hearty laugh by friends and colleagues she made in the many additional places she lived, went to school, was a home-maker/Army wife/corporate wife, volunteered and worked, including Washington, DC, Cushing, OK, Lawton, OK, El Paso, TX, Oxon Hills, MD, and Amarillo, TX. Her last big move was back to Bartlesville in 1977 for Tom’s legal career move with Phillips Petroleum Company. As a Chi-Omega alum from her time at the University of Oklahoma (Epsilon Alpha 1960), she connected with new “sisters” in each city she moved to and made life-long friends. She volunteered for many groups through the years, most notably Camp Fire Girls (as a troop leader and later on the Amarillo board of directors), the Bartlesville Service League (where she became both a member, the president, and an Advisory Board chairman), and she was active in Chapter DW of PEO in Bartlesville. She was a very accomplished artist, able to draw, paint, design and execute needlecraft, sew, write and create elegant decorations. She was a generous hostess, and like her late mother-in-law Mildred Lucille Hart Cubbage she always had a casserole for sick friends, or soda and snacks for countless teens the kids brought home. She was quietly generous financially, like her late father-in-law Thomas Leon “Big Tom” Cubbage Sr. Her children never wanted for something important and her grandkids could always look to her for support of the latest school music trip or event fundraiser. Linda was also quick to forgive and the soul of patience, an eagle-eye proofer and voracious reader, had been known to ride a horse and fly fish, loved antiquing with family, hammed it up at costume mystery dinners, hosted Jesus’ birthday party annually (replete with paper crowns), and never made her children eat liver. Linda loved music, though she didn’t play an instrument or sing. When her youngest son headed to college, she headed into the professional world. Having volunteered at the Bartlesville Community Center box office since 1982, she started assisting with the new OK Mozart International Festival and soon began her self-taught education in the “art” of raising money. She held several roles at OKM through 18 years (Board of Directors 1991-2001), ultimately becoming the Development Director. It was while with OKM she had the opportunity to travel several times to Europe. And for her work raising awareness of the music of Mozart, in 1992, the Austrian ambassador to the U.S. bestowed upon her the Decoration of Merit in Gold from the Republic of Austria. In 2005, Linda was recruited by the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra to lead its fundraising strategy. She remained actively engaged as part-time Development Director until her illness. Friends describe her in many positions and roles as a “community leader” and “force of nature.” Linda was also a servant of God, attending church throughout her life, shepherding her kids to Sunday School, and living the Golden Rule by example. No community was more dear to her, though, than the family of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Bartlesville where she was confirmed in 1992. She volunteered in the St. Luke’s gift shop, and on the Altar Guild, and in 1999 graduated from the four-year Education For Ministry (EFM) Bible-study course. She loved her role as grandmother “Mimi” and was immensely proud of the many creative talents and opportunities of her grandchildren through art, choirs and orchestras, sports, theatre, school and church, and she attended as many performances and events as possible. She admitted once that she did have a favorite grandkid—“It is the one right in front of me,” she said with a twinkle. She kept in touch with all eight through lunch dates, holiday visits, calls, cards, emails, Facebook and Skype. Linda is survived by her husband (of 54 years), best friend, traveling buddy and devoted caregiver, Tom, of their home. Also missing her are daughter Cathy Elizabeth Casey and her husband, Ken, of Houston; Mary Melinda and her husband, Barrett Waller, of Tulsa; her son Thomas Leon “TL” Cubbage III and his wife, Nicole, of McLean, VA; and eight grandchildren: Sarah Casey, Darcy & Rowan Waller, and the five Cubbages: Gretchen, Natalie, Celeste, Paul & Neil. She is remembered by her brother, John Perkins and his wife, Muriel, of Austin; her sister-in-law, Nancy Roush and her husband, Gale, of Greenville, SC; nieces Liz Oakley, Susan Hedrick and Emily Painton; and her nephew, Paul Perkins. She is also survived by her dear rescued cats, Pasha and Lynx, and many grandpets. She has left our daily lives, but she is not gone. She continues to both teach us, and petition Our Father on our behalf. Linda always said, and often remarked of this last illness, “It is what it is.” Indeed. And what it is now is an amazing legacy left by an amazing woman. She will be forever missed. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, July 2 at 1 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Bartlesville. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that gifts be made in Linda’s memory to The Journey Home, 3406 SE Kentucky, Bartlesville, OK 74006. She spent her last three days there in restful peace.

Mrs. Linda Ellen Cubbage

February 20, 1941 - June 4, 2016