Linda Claire McDearman

COOKEVILLE CHAPEL - Linda Claire (Colley) McDearman passed away peacefully on January 26, 2026, at home and surrounded by her family.

She was born in Nashville, TN on October 7, 1941 to Hubert and Mary Claire (Hertenstein) Colley. She attended Cathedral High School, and went on to graduate from Tennessee Tech in 1962. That same year, she married Jon Robert McDearman, with whom she shared everything until his death in 1997. While raising two kids, they enjoyed gardening, boating, camping, and beekeeping. Linda led an adventuresome Girl Scout troop and was involved in Little League and the PTO. She even ran one of the first computer stores in Cookeville, where she combined her prodigious management and teaching skills.

After Jon's death, she applied her energy to building a network of friends, caring for others in the community through her efforts to start a rural health clinic and helping countless people navigate their Medicare benefits. She was always a smart and patient source of advice, knowledge and insight to friends and family. She was frugal and loved to try new things, dabbling in dozens of hobbies. One of her favorite sentences was “I bet we can make that at home!” She loved reading and was an active member of two book clubs for decades, where she made some of her deepest lasting friendships and had countless adventures travelling and socializing.

She wholeheartedly embraced the role of grandmother to Tommy, Laura and Libby, with whom she shared her lifelong enthusiasm for science, nature, reading, the beach, and her beloved farm.

She was "Mom" to Karen Philion (Tom) of Greensboro, NC and Michael McDearman (Stevie) of Madisonville, KY; sister to Donna Strasser of Nashville, TN; Cathy Moran of Cookeville, TN; and Jay Colley (Cindy) of Lanexa, VA; "Ba" to Tommy Philion (Bianca) of Winston-Salem, NC; Laura Philion of Norfolk, VA; and Libby Philion of Brooklyn, NY. She was “Aunt Linda” to Billy Strasser (Shari) of Charleston, WV; Sister Mary Claire SOLT of Corpus Christie, TX; Adam Moran (Andrea) of Cookeville, TN; Ben Colley (Annie) of Charlotte, NC; Carleigh Roberts (Colby) of Williamsburg, VA. She was also a proud great-aunt and great-grandma to Aidan, Quentin, Everleigh, Jolie, Archer, Kieran, and Arden.

In addition to Jon, she was predeceased by an infant daughter, Laurie Lucile.

Memorial services will be held Saturday January 31, 2026 at 12:00 pm in the Cookeville Chapel. The family will receive friends Saturday 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

She is so loved, and so missed.

Hooper Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111. You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.