Linda V. Wakeley's Obituary
Linda V. Wakeley passed away on December 8, 2025, in Puyallup, Washington. She was born on August 17, 1941, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Glenn and Edna Cantrell.
Linda spent her early years in Wise County, Virginia, before her family relocated to the West Coast and eventually settled in Eugene, Oregon. After graduating from high school, she began working for a local cartographer, where she met her future husband, Richard "Dick" Wakeley. The couple later moved to Washington state when Dick accepted a position with Weyerhaeuser.
Together they raised two sons, Richard Jr. and Robert. Once her children were in school, Linda pursued higher education and earned both a Bachelor of Science and a master’s degree in occupational therapy. She devoted much of her career to serving students as an occupational therapist in the Federal Way School District.
Linda was known for her creativity and artistic talents. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, drawing, and painting. Following the passing of her husband, she developed a passion for photography-especially wildlife photography-with a particular love for capturing birds. This interest led her on many adventures around the world. She also gave generously of her time through volunteer work with organizations such as Step by Step and Metro Animal Services in Puyallup.
She is mourned by her sons Richard Jr. and Robert; daughter-in-law Carey; grandchildren Ryker, Gage, and Kaytlyn Freeland; great-granddaughter Emma; sister Trudy Swan; and a very special friend, Don Wilbur.
Linda's vibrant spirit and creative legacy will be deeply missed by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Step by Step at https://www.stepbystepfamily.org/donate. A Celebration of Life will be held at Farm 12 Puyallup within the Event Hall on February 8, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. RSVPs appreciated to [email protected].
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