Linda K. Hoskinson

This is the reading of my eulogy. Obviously since you are hearing this, I have passed, otherwise this could be really awkward. This is the day of my memorial service. If you are here and listening to this, it is because you have been an important part of my life, and I truly appreciate you for taking the time out to be here to celebrate my life. I will try and keep this eulogy brief. You have already heard the more generic details of my life, but now I want to fill in some of the between the lines stuff. The fun stuff. Let me begin by saying that I love my family very much and I have some very fond memories of my time with them. When my brother and I were kids we came to Oklahoma every summer to spend time with my Oklahoma family, which was basically everyone. Those were some of the happiest times in my younger life. Our summers always included going to the lake. I remember the times on my grandpa's house-boat. And other times just spending the day on the shore fishing and having a picnic, always dripping with ice-cold watermelon. I vividly remember some of the crazy moments with my family. When the whole family got together, there were about 18 of us. I remember the time when all the guys in the family decided to slip out on a midnight frog hunt. These guys returned in the wee hours of the morning with a couple of bags of frogs. They dropped the bags in the garage right near grandma's washer and drier. About sunrise, shrieks could be heard throughout the house. All 17 of us ran to the garage to find grandma terrified, standing on a chair, and the garage floor covered with very confused frogs. And one other time when all of us decided to go skating. Aunt Marsha wore her brand new wig. At one point, the skate floor was clearing, and as if on cue, Marsha tripped over her wheels and down she went. We all stood in stunned silence as the wig rolled like a coin across the rink. She took it well though. Red faced and grinning like a crazy person, she scooped the hairy beast up, stuck it back on her head and just kept skating. Whatever mischief we got into, we did it as a family. I would like to send a Beyond-the-grave thank you to all you wonderful, crazy people I call my earthly family. I love you all. As most of you know, I was no stranger to mischief and bad choices. I'm sure you will hear all about those from my big snitch brother. But just like Lucy and her best friend, Ethel, I always managed to drag some poor unsuspecting friend along with me and I am pleased to consider so many people among my nearest and truest friends. When I was living in my apartment, my friend, Eileen, and my sister-in-law, Terri, had some amazing adventures. We took up weekly get togethers to teach ourselves how to sign. So using our basic knowledge of sign, a computer site and my deaf Aunt Sharon, we proceeded to interpret the Bible. We started with the book of Jude, obviously because it is short. To be fair, an unhealthy amount of snickerdoodle coffee and delicious sugary snacks was being consumed. We were there to work so we needed the calories. {that's my story, and I'm sticking to it).We were learning each word separately, and came to a passage about the evils of bragging and fl att ery. So we signed "brag'' and "flatter'', "brag" and "flatter'', "brag" and "flatter''. If you will notice the interpreter, she is signing "brag" and "flatter", "brag" and "flatter''. At this point, and under the extreme influence of snickerdoodle coffee, Terri shrieks, "OH NO, I busted muh bragginfladder." That was the moment we became the Bragginfladders, and we began our journey with the Deaf. It has been a wonderful journey, and I have known some wonderful Deaf people. A Family conducted memorial service will be 11:00 A.M., Monday, January 15, 2018 at Chandler Road Church of Christ with Minister Donnie Branscum and Minister Vance Davis officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Morris, Chris Cooper, Larry Koch, Zane Box, Chris Cowan, Ben Morris and Howard Avery.

Linda K. Hoskinson

September 7, 1961 - December 14, 2017