Linda Jean Lyle

Linda Jean Lyle of Eugene, Oregon passed away peacefully at home surrounded by love and care on June 27, 2021 at the age of 78.

Linda was born in 1943 in Chicago, Illinois to Beulah and Lawrence Lyle. Some of Linda’s first words were recorded on an album with her mom and sent overseas to greet her daddy in WWII. Her sister Marcia joined the family in 1947 and they had a close bond for life. In Chicago, Linda learned to play the piano with incredible grace. Linda struggled with rheumatic fever as a child so the family relocated to the sunshine of San Diego, California in 1957.

Linda graduated from Grossmont High School in 1961 with honors and attended classes at Grossmont College. She was crowned San Diego Queen of the SeaBees in 1962.

Linda married in 1963 and had two daughters, Robin and Wendy. She modeled locally and participated in fashion shows in Los Angeles and later in the Bay Area of California, eventually managing her own business called Fashion Forecast exhibiting designs from local boutiques at posh restaurants and country clubs. In LA she was excited to meet and greet movie and TV stars who attended her shows, especially when Ingrid Bergman sat in her section. Linda developed an appreciation for antiques that continued for the rest of her life. Her love of fashion, interior design and architecture developed from her many years unwell as a child spending hours and hours looking at magazines of beautiful pictures of the world outside her room. She was just as beautiful herself.

Linda remarried in 1975 and moved with her daughters to the Pacific Northwest living in Longview, Washington for many years and eventually settling in the Rogue Valley in 1983. She raised her beloved child Anari Jared in Medford. Linda spent 26 years in the valley connecting with the local antique market, sharing her passion with many antique dealer friends and aficionados.

Linda later relocated to Eugene where she enjoyed antiquing, stalking open houses, closing down Starbucks, attending Chris Botti concerts, and shopping for flowers with her daughter Wendy. Eugene was also a perfect midway point to visit with her daughter Robin and her granddaughters when they came to town. There was rarely a vintage hat that Linda would not wear, and it was always a must to be fashionably coordinated head-to-toe including lipstick. Linda also enjoyed rooting for the Oregon Ducks and kept many clippings of her favorite quarterbacks, basketball players and coaches. She loved feeding squirrels and blue jays “healthy snacks” and they surrounded her with love and attention as if she were Snow White. She gave them all names of course. Linda’s voice was like a gentle song, like a lovely piano piece she could play with a delicate touch.

Linda is survived by her daughters Robin Finell of Portland, Wendy Larson (Tom) of Eugene, Anari Jared Goldberg of Springfield, her sister Marcia Theroux (Ralph) of Harrisburg, NC, and three granddaughters. She was preceded in her next journey by her dear parents Larry and Beulah Lyle, and by many sweet and sometimes naughty doggies and kitties.

A private committal service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park. A family gathering will take place at a later date.