Linda Lee Hess

Linda Lee Hess, 82, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2026, at 12:41 a.m., leaving behind a lifetime defined by family, hard work, generosity, laughter, and a deep love for animals.

Linda was born Linda Lee Williams on June 9, 1944, in Sterling, Colorado, to Don and Jackie (Hendricks) Williams. She spent much of her childhood in Nebraska and often spoke fondly of growing up on a farm, doing chores before school, camping with her family, and riding horses with friends near Courthouse and Jailhouse Rock in Bridgeport.

Her love of animals began early and remained with her throughout her life. As a girl, Linda was known for bringing home stray animals and convincing her parents to let her keep them. Among the animals she loved were her dog Shep, a pet skunk, and her Shetland pony, Butchy, whom she nursed to health when he was born too small and weak to survive on his own. Animals always held a special place in Linda’s heart.

On February 11, 1962, Linda married Robert “Bob” Hess after the two were introduced on a blind double date arranged by Linda’s best friend. Their marriage would span more than six decades.

Together, Linda and Bob built a life that took them through Nebraska, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri while raising their four children: Virginia “Ginny” Hess, Cindy Marciniak, Don Hess and Robert “Bobby” Hess II. Through all of the moves and changes that came with Bob’s career with the USDA, Linda had a remarkable ability to make each new place a home.

After spending years as a stay-at-home mother, Linda returned to the workforce in 1979. She built a successful career that included work in collections and management and spent several years with GE Capital. Linda took pride in being a hard worker and in the friendships she made throughout her career. Even after retiring in her 50s, sitting still did not come naturally to her, so she took a part-time job at Blockbuster simply because she enjoyed working. That job also helped fuel what became an enormous movie collection that she lovingly cataloged and “rented” to her children for free.

Linda had an eye for beauty and loved fashion, decorating, style, getting her hair and nails done, and making her home beautiful. She loved oldies music and Elvis Presley, Disney movies, Lifetime movies, Starbucks Spiced Chai Lattes, Scrabble and Yahtzee. Her granddaughter affectionately knew her as the “Scrabble Queen.”

But more than anything else, Linda loved her family.

Her home was filled with photographs of the people she loved, and some of her happiest times were spent gathering everyone together for Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays or simply because there was an opportunity to be together. She was known within the family for making what she proudly considered the best potato salad and deviled eggs anywhere.

Linda could be bubbly and outgoing, shy and reserved, generous, stubborn, opinionated, funny, compassionate and fiercely loving. She enjoyed talking with people, including complete strangers, and was known by those closest to her as someone with a big heart who could listen without judgment.

Linda endured profound loss during her life. Her daughter, Cindy Marciniak, passed away on December 21, 2016, at the age of 52. Her husband and companion of more than 60 years, Robert “Bob” Hess, passed away on March 11, 2023.

In the later years of her life, Linda lived with Alzheimer’s disease. Although the disease gradually took away many of the memories and abilities that had once come so naturally to her, it could never erase the life she had lived or the impact she made on the people who loved her.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Jackie Williams; her sister, Sandra Harper; her daughter, Cindy Marciniak; and her husband, Robert “Bob” Hess.

She leaves behind her children, Virginia “Ginny” Hess, Don Hess and Robert “Bobby” Hess II; her son-in-law, Phil Marciniak; daughter-in-law, Natasha Hess; her grandchildren, Glen Marciniak, Jackie Marciniak and Noah Belcher; her sisters, Claudia Waterman and Sharon Kochenower; as well as extended family and friends who were part of the life she treasured.

When Linda once wrote down the five things she most wanted people to know about her, her answers were simple: she loved horseback riding; she loved working and decorating her home; style, fashion and beauty were her hobbies; she loved caring for her family; and she loved family get-togethers.

Those five things say a great deal about Linda.

She loved deeply. She worked hard. She cared for the people and animals entrusted to her. She appreciated beauty. And she wanted the people she loved gathered close.

Alzheimer’s was part of Linda’s final chapter, but it was never the story of her life.

Her story was her family, the home she created, the animals she rescued, the friendships she made, the traditions she passed down and more than eight decades of memories left with those who loved her.

She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.  

A visitation will be held from 10:00am to 12:00pm, Saturday, September 12, 2026 at the Amos Family Funeral Home in Shawnee, Kansas.

Linda had a deep love for flowers. In her memory, the family kindly invites you to send a favorite flower or plant to the funeral home for everyone to enjoy as we gather together to celebrate and honor her beautiful life.