Linda Kathryn "Ritchie" Cearley

Linda Kathryn (Ritchie) Cearley, 76, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, April 4, 2024, after complications following surgery. Linda is survived by her husband of 53 years Edward Cearley, son Brian (Amethyst) Cearley, daughter Daphne Ashby, granddaughters Mia Ashby and Everleigh Cearley, brother Lindon Richie, nieces Greta (Don) Gibson, Heretta Ritchie, Lorita (Kevin) Snowden, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, beloved cats Bella, Willow and Ivy and a host of close friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Arnold Ritchie and Bertha (Ritchie) Way, brother Oval Ritchie, sisters Bernice and Bernette Ritchie, sister-in-law Charlotte Ritchie and son-in-law Anthony Ashby. Linda was a retired LPN working for over 40 years in the healthcare industry taking exceptional care of her patients, starting her career in the prenatal department, and finishing in a nursing home. Linda (Nana) was the grandmother you read about in books. The one you giddily await to visit as a kid, the one that showers you in affection, kissing and pinching your cheeks and stuffing your face with southern cuisine before you even sit down. She was gentle, her touch was soft, and her voice was comforting. It’s said there’s no such thing as the perfect person, but I can confidently say she was one of the people I believe could be a close contender. People outside of our family wished they had someone like her, and we were all so lucky to experience her love first-hand, to be wrapped in her blankets and given some of her love. Her personality shone through how she acted, but also in how she presented herself. I don’t think I’ll ever know anyone else in my life who wore as much color as she did. I challenge anyone to find one piece of boring, black clothing in her closet, because we all know it had to have some kind of pattern or design on it for her to wear it. She was passionate about her family; she was especially excited to cherish her newly welcomed granddaughter Everleigh. She loved her three cats, decorating her home with craft projects she saw in DIY videos and cooking for anyone that asked her to. A small memorial service will be held on Monday, April 8, 2024, at 11:00am at Crossville American Legion Post 163 at 1446 South Main Street, Crossville, TN 38555 for family and friends in Crossville. There will be a memorial service at Hindman Funeral Home at a later date for her friends and family in Kentucky where she will be laid to rest. In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations be made in her name to the American Cancer Society to further the research of Lynch Syndrome.