In Memory
Linda Kay Clough
Friday, August 31, 2012
McCook Daily Gazette
Linda Kay Clough
Oct. 12, 1945 - Aug. 30, 2012
NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska --Linda Kay Clough, 66, of North Platte, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte.
Linda was born Oct. 12, 1945, at Cambridge, Nebraska, to T.E. and Bertha Lucille Decker Stevens. She grew up in McCook, Nebraska and graduated from McCook High School in 1964, then attended Christian College in Columbia, Missouri, from which she graduated in 1966.
On Aug. 14, 1966, Linda married George Edward Clough at McCook. They made their home in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she worked for Hovland-Swanson as a model and professional seamstress and George attended U.N.L. They moved to Lexington in 1967, then returned to Lincoln the following year and she resumed her work with Hovland-Swanson and George attended law school. In 1971, Linda and George moved to North Platte, where they raised their sons and were very active in the First Presbyterian Church.
Linda was diagnosed with MS in 1974 and continued to be an active person who enjoyed traveling, gardening and tending to her flower beds. She also was active in Cub Scouts and was involved with MS Support Groups during the 1980s and 90s. Linda was one of the original contact support persons for the Rape and Domestic Abuse Program in North Platte. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she was a Deacon and on the Christian Education Committee. She was also a longtime member of P.E.O. Chapter G.O.
In 2003, Linda went into Centennial Park Retirement Village. She was lovingly referred to as "Sunshine" at the nursing home.
Linda is survived by George and their two sons, Ryan Clough, of Lincoln and Spencer Clough, of North Platte; two brothers, Jack (Norma) Stevens, of McCook and Ernie (Lucille) Stevens, of Loveland, Colorado; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and other family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, T.E. and Bertha Stevens; and two brothers, and R. Vaughn Stevens.
Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.4, 2012, at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore with Pastor Polly K. Deppen of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore. Memorials are suggested to the P.E.O. Scholarship Fund. Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.
Eulogy for Linda at her memorial service
by her sister-in-law, Norma Stevens stevensn@ocsmccook.com
Linda Stevens Clough ‘64
This is a celebration --a celebration of our Linda Stevens Clough--a beautiful and elegant lady who impacted our lives & we dearly loved her.
When I think of Linda the palette of color which I am reminded of would be the pastel colors especially yellow. She was bright, sunny, happy, & mischievous.
When her sons were babies, her laugh was so exuberant that she startled them & babies would begin to cry. That was Linda.
When Jack and I began our dating Linda was 10 years old. Then at age 12 we asked that she be our candlelight girl at our wedding.
When I mentioned mischievous her schoolmate Cheryl Perterson Droskin told me about Linda and their partnership in crime. Such as Linda telling Cheryl, “Let’s run across the street to the neighbors , go in, touch the refrigerator without the neighbors noticing and run back home..” Mission accomplished. That was Linda.
Another story Cheryl told is Linda fashioning some type of vest out of who knows what so that she and Cheryl could put on those makeshift garments and jump off the sun roof or trees. That was Linda.
Then through her teenage years Jack and I remember being invited to a formal dinner which Linda had prepared for a home ec project TE and Bertha’s home. From prime rib to baked Alaska--the meal was delicious and presented beautifully with candlelight and linens. That was Linda.
When I mentioned mischievousness she and her schoolmate Cheryl convinced TE to give them the keys to the car and to the Stevens Furs store they went on a Saturday night. TE actually said yes. The girls drove down to the store, opened the door and proceeded to display themselves as mannequins dressed with the furs posing in the window as people strolled by. I can’t imagine how those two could keep a straight face while
while being very still but would perhaps wink, smile, or move a hand causing a second look from the people. That was Linda having fun.
Another classmate was Sandi Coolidge. Her father eventually became head of the Nebraska Department of Roads. After Jack and Linda had revealed how to make a cup of water disappear Sandi decided she would like to show her father . So Sandi & her dad sat on the floor with their legs widespread around the water. The Sandi shook & tapped spoons on the floor while chanting some garbelde gock incantations. Her dad was so mesmerized by this that before he knew it Sandi grabbed her dad’s legs and pulled him through the water puddle and yes the water disappeared. Fun Yes Infectious Yes That was LInda.
In her high school class were two brothers--Ron and Erik Allen whose parents farmed. One day Linda asked Mrs Allen if she could work for her that summer as she wanted to learn how to cook and Bertha wouldn ‘t let her mess up her stove. Mrs Allen tells Linda that it would take lots of work & cooking but Linda was up for it and began her fulfillment of learning to cook especially pies. Well, as it would happen Mr. Allen was in the field and Mrs Allen needed some grocery items and left the house with Linda busy in the kitchen and the boys --you can guess. The doorbell rings and Eric goes to answer it. A gentleman asked if his mother was home. Yes, said Eric .He goes to the kitchen , tells Linda someone wants to see her and you can imagine to both of their surprised looks on their faces that Linda with her pigtails and scarf could certainly not be Erik and Ron’s mother. Pranks continued you can bet that summer. That’s our Linda.
When she and George were preparing for their wedding, she asked Jack to fashion her headpiece for her veil. Jack was honored to be asked.
Many many times of celebrating the holidays with the Cloughs and the Stevens families were special special times of being together, sharing humorous jokes and puns and simply enjoying those times with each other. At one of those holiday dinners in North Platte we all brought covered dishes but in one instance when we were ready to eat imagine our surprise when the 7 Lettuce Salad was baked and the scalloped potatoes were nice and cold.
Even though there were many years separating Linda”s age from her brothers as many as 13-21 age spread-her brothers were always close to her as her big brothers. She was their little sister.
A courageous lady with her dear loyal & faithful husband at her side. George, we thank you for your steadfastness with Linda all these years.
And we wish to thank all of the caregivers at Centennial Park Nursing Home.
Linda is freed of the shackles of ms. She fought the good fight and has run her race. That’s our Linda..
God bless you ,Linda ,and rest your soul.
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