DOWNEY – Linda Susan Gatlin (Walker Leonard-Strain), of Downey, passed away from a heart attack early in the morning of Dec. 5 at the age of 60. She was born at the old Downey Hospital on 2nd Street on July 1, 1954 to parents Juanita Mae Walker and John Willard Walker. She had an older brother John Terry (deceased), younger sister Virginia, and younger brother Thomas.

The family moved to Norwalk in 1959. In 1968, Linda’s mother packed up the station wagon and moved the kids to her hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky. In Kentucky, Linda would meet and marry Garth Leonard, whose family moved her to Port Huron, Mich. in 1969.

In 1972, she divorced and moved back to Downey. She then partnered and had a child with Scott Fisher.

She left Scott and married James Strain, giving birth to another girl.

She worked at Kmart and Handleman Corporation, and her last position was as a part-time teacher’s assistant at Downey Adult School in 2001.

Linda is survived by her children, Angelique Marie Fisher-Dickens of Nashville, and Catherine Beth Bryson (Strain) of Madison, Tenn.; two grandsons and one granddaughter; one nephew, Ian W. Walker of Greeley, Colo.; mother, Juanita M. Walker; sister, Virginia L. Walker; and brother, Thomas E. Walker.

She was predeceased by her father, John W. Walker, and older brother, John Terry Walker.

A memorial service is scheduled for Dec. 20 at Rainbow Chapel at Rose Hills Memorial Park.

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Published: Dec. 11, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 35