of Shirley, AR

May 21, 1952 - January 2, 2026

Linda Kay Mason Secrest, 73, left her earthly body on January 2, 2026, to enter her eternal home.

Linda was born on May 21st in 1952, in the Florida Keys to Clement and Katie Mason. Alongside her two brothers, Mike and Gary, she spent her childhood traveling wherever her father's work took the family. If you asked Linda, she'd tell you that out of all the places she lived, Kansas was her favorite, mostly because the neighbors let her ride their horses whenever she wanted.

In February of 1972, Linda began her journey into motherhood with her first daughter, Sonja. She later expanded her family with another daughter, Tonya, and a son, Michael (Mikey), before eventually settling in Arkansas. The family lived in Alexander, where her children recall the moment they realized just how much of a free spirit their mom was by letting them play in a red clay mound from sunup to sundown, often requiring them to strip down before being allowed back into the house.

In the late 1990s, while working for the VFW in Little Rock, Linda found the love of her life, Aubrey Secrest. The two were married on May 31st, 1998. Together they built a life centered on family, friends, and especially their grandchildren, enjoying every moment of each other's company until Aubrey's sudden passing in 2006.

After losing her husband, Linda wrapped herself even more tightly around her family particularly her grandkids, who became the center of her world.

In her younger years, Linda worked as a bartender, and later became a cashier at the Clinton Taco Bell, where she was affectionately known by everyone as ''Grandma.'' She loved being a member of the Color Guard and participating in local parades, always with her grandchildren in tow.

Linda could best be described as a collector of dolphins, NASCAR memorabilia, Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings gear, peace signs, and anything Coca-Cola.

She will most often be remembered as the ''100-pound badass'' who could haul and cut wood alongside her son-in-law and grandson; for starting cake fights and blaming everyone else for the mess; for chunking a ketchup bottle at her grandson for teasing her about her age; and, of course, for being everyone's grandma at Taco Bell.

Left to cherish and carry on Linda's memory are her children:
Sonja (Don) Fulbright, Tonya Grabher, and Michael (Mikey) Fritts.

Her grandchildren:
Linda Ann (Chris), Katie (Justin), Don Cody, Annie Kay (Dylon), Zoey, Linda, Leta, and Zane.

Her great-grandchildren:
Madison, K.K., and Kevin.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Aubrey Secrest; her parents, Clement and Katie Mason; her brother, Mike Mason; and her grandson, Damian Forrester.

Linda's family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the CNAs and nurses at The Springs of Fairfield Bay for their care.

 

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