Linda Dean Obituary

Funeral services for Linda Dean, 72, of Athens are scheduled for 1:00 p. m. , Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at Fellowship Baptist Church of Athens with Bro. Randy Jones officiating. Private family graveside services will be held at Oaklawn Memorial Park, Athens under the direction of Hannigan Smith Funeral Home. Mrs. Dean went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 6, 2023, in Athens. Linda Gail Dean was born April 4, 1951, in Odessa, Texas, the daughter of George Vann and Margaret (Gilliam) Vann. She married Mike Dean in Odessa in 1970 where they lived until 1986 when they moved to DeSoto, TX, where she began teaching Pre-Kindergarten and later became Director of Childcare. In 1992 they moved to Athens, where Mike became Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church. In 1994 she became Director of Weekday Education at First Baptist, Athens. Her love in life was her precious family and two children to whom she was fiercely devoted. One of Linda's many gifts were working with and teaching kids. More than anything, she loved teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Children's Church and AWANAS at Fellowship Baptist Church. Through those ministries God used her to influence numerous lives. She was a woman of tremendous faith, a loving mother and grandmother who will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Mike, of 53 years; two children, Kristi Frye and husband Jeff of Frisco and Kevin Dean and wife Jennifer of Houston; two sisters, Nancy Hicks and husband Bud of Athens, Connie Daniel and husband Steve of Lafayette, Louisiana; grandchildren, Alex and Abby Frye and Lilian Vera Dean; and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly. A visitation will be held prior to the memorial service at Fellowship Baptist Church in Athens from 12-1:00 p. m. In lieu of flowers the family would like donations made in her memory to the Fellowship Baptist Church Saints in Ministry. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home family.