Linda Gail Clanton Bradshaw, of Columbia City, was born July 10, 1946 in Decatur, Alabama and died March 19, 2023.

Linda is survived by her husband of 37 years, Lloyd Bradshaw, of Columbia City; seven children and bonus children, Lloyd Bradshaw II (Wendy) of Fort Wayne, Lloya (John) Osier of Fort Wayne, Louis Bradshaw of St. Petersburg, Florida, Linda (John) Bellam of Columbia City, Lynne (Jeff) Brittain of Wellington, Alabama, Joe (Julie) Taylor of Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Jason (Honey) Taylor of Signal Mountain, Tennessee; 16 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. The couple spent the majority of their lives in Marion, Indiana.

Linda's life on this earth was a struggle. She spent most of her life fighting to survive. Her childhood and adulthood were filled with abandonment, neglect, abuse, and poverty, but she never gave up. As an adult, she fought through three rocky marriages, several rounds of cancer, and eventually her ultimate battle with dementia.

Linda loved the simple things in life. She loved singing off-tune to her favorite songs, talking on the phone, watching her "stories," fishing with her husband, crocheting, puzzle and coloring books and making her legendary banana split dessert for generations to devour. She had a youthful mischievousness, a blushing grin and an innocent giggle that could bring a smile to anyone's face. Often, when you would get her laughing, she couldn't stop. Her child-like antics were as legendary as her sweet tooth and both often got her in trouble with her husband, her children and her doctors.

Linda never finished school or worked outside the home, but even with the simplest of means, she helped others. She babysat many children for family and friends over the decades and she was loyal to a fault. Although she never had many friends outside of her family, her impact on her children and grand children's lives remains defining as was her simple example and reminder of God's grace over us all.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date, but the family would like to thank the caring staff of The Rivers (Miller's Merry Manor of Columbia City) for their years of quality care for Linda.