Linda Lee Waco's Obituary
Linda Lee Waco, 82, of McKinney, Texas, passed away in her home on October 16, 2021. She was born on January 16, 1939 to Charles Edward and Nova Lee Nevitt in El Dorado Springs, Missouri. The Nevitts were a family of educators who understood the value of education and lifelong learning. Linda graduated valedictorian of her high school class, and Magna Cum Laude at Texas Christian University where she studied Education with a minor in Theater.
She went on to graduate school at the University of Kansas where she graduated with a Master’s Degree in Education. Linda was a talented as a student and as a teacher and reading specialist who was committed to her students and who saw the individual talents and potential in each. She taught almost every grade in elementary school and middle school.
The Nevitts were also lifelong members of the Disciples of Christ church. As a young adult, Linda attended church at Richland Hills Christian Church in Ft. Worth. She was encouraged to join the choir (even though she didn’t sing) by the Senior Minister’s wife who had ulterior motives. There, she was introduced to Rev. Michael Waco, the Associate Minister and Choir Director. He invited her out to coffee, they discovered they had a lot in common, and the rest is history. Being lifelong Disciples and “TCU horned frogs”, they were married within the year at Robert Carr Chapel on the TCU campus on December 21, 1964.
In the summer of 1965, they moved to San Angelo, Texas where her husband was called to ministry at First Christian Church. In San Angelo, Mike and Linda became a family, welcoming a daughter Jennifer Leigh and a son (just 15 months later) Michael Geoffrey. They always looked back on their years in San Angelo fondly, filled with fish fries, rodeos and childhood birthdays. Linda stepped away from the classroom when her children were born to become a full time homemaker, although she found her way into the classroom by teaching children’s Sunday School and later by becoming a classroom parent volunteer and book report Mom. When her children entered high school, she returned to teaching.
In retirement, Linda doted on her two grandchildren, Maxwell Scott and Delaney Michelle. She cherished the time spent with Max and Delaney reading books, watching movies and creating stories of their own. She loved to bake and garden with her grandchildren. They also created memories on family vacations to the ocean and to the mountains. Through everything she wanted her children and grandchildren to be independent thinkers, who had informed opinions about issues that mattered to all people.
Linda and Michael moved to the Kansas City area in the late 70s where Michael served at Community Christian Church for 8 years. In 1986, they moved back to Texas, this time to the Dallas area where they remained through retirement. A few years ago, they built their final home in McKinney. They enjoyed choosing every detail, and enjoyed their final years together in this cozy home filled with a lifetime of memories.
Linda is preceded in death by her husband the Rev. Dr. Michael Waco, her parents Charles Edward Sr. and Nova Lee Nevitt, and her brother Thomas Virgil Nevitt. She is survived by her brother Charles Edward Nevitt Jr. of Vinita, Oklahoma, her children Jennifer Leigh Fettchenhauer (and husband Scott) of Bloomington, Indiana and Michael Geoffrey Waco (and wife Hope) of Frisco, Texas, and her grandchildren Maxwell Fettchenhauer of Bloomington and Delaney Waco of Frisco.
All are welcome to celebrate Linda LeeWaco’s life during a service on Saturday, October 23 at 10:30 am with visitation before the service at 9:30 am at First Christian Church of McKinney.
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