Linda Elaine (Waites) Lunyou

Linda Elaine (Waites) Lunyou, 82, of Piedmont, MO, passed away Monday, July 29, 2024, at her home in Piedmont. Linda was born November 11, 1941, one of eleven children to parents Elmer and Annie (Warrick) Waites.

Linda had lived all her life in Wayne County. She graduated from Piedmont High School and was one of the last classes that carried the bobcat as mascot. After high school, on January 31, 1960, she married Carl Lunyou at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. They had two children, Rhonda and John, and had sixty-one years together until his passing in 2021.

Linda was a very organized person, and she did it with grace. She was a lady that was concerned about people and could really be a friend in your time of need. When problems arose, she would stand beside you and offer encouragement. She practiced her faith in Christ in her life. For decades she was a very active member in the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, as Sunday school teacher, children’s choir leader, vacation Bible school director, and anything else that was needed. Linda later became a member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church. She also visited friends and family at Lebanon Baptist Church and Harvest Baptist Church during her later years.

Linda was a farm girl and later a farm wife, who enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking, sewing, and anything else that needed to be done for her family and friends. She loved her flowers and her hummingbirds. She and Carl worked cattle, worked in the hayfields, and made a big garden every year until their later years. They were a successful team.

Linda was a founding member and very active in the Wayne County Historical Society in Piedmont and served as president for many years. Linda and Carl dearly loved and were very proud of their grandchildren and were always ready to help in any way, especially when it came to after school ice cream cones or breakfast pancakes shaped like tractors, airplanes, or animals with her homemade syrup.

Deer hunting friends and family will remember the “hunters’ breakfast” she would fix on the first day of deer season, with a huge pot of chili waiting for them when they came in for lunch. Many in the community will remember her “million-dollar cinnamon rolls” and blackberry cobbler. Linda will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Linda is survived by her children: Rhonda Lunyou and John Lunyou and wife Debbie (Brandt), all of Piedmont; grandchildren: Michelle (Lunyou) Brand and husband Tate of St. Robert, Tyler, Elaina, and Luke Lunyou, all of Piedmont; brothers: David Waites of Patterson, Melvin Waites and wife Jenny of Salem; sister: Cheryl (Waites) Libla and husband Dale of Piedmont; sisters-in-law: Shirley Waites of Arnold, Catherine Waites of Piedmont.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents; husband Carl; grandchildren: Cole and Lauren Lunyou; brothers: William “Bill”, Joe and Lee Waites; sisters: Jeannine Schmidt, Natalia “Tally” Deering, Myra Vavak, and Lois Seals.

Visitation was held at 5:00 pm, Saturday, August 3, 2024, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral service was held at 2:00 pm, Sunday, August 4, 2024, also in the Piedmont Chapel. Bro. Gary Aubuchon ministered to the family. Music was provided by John Lunyou. Tyler Lunyou, Luke Lunyou, Tate Brand, Jason Seals, Tim Vavak, Brad Libla, Matt Huffman, Nathan Aubuchon, and Nick Libla served as pallbearers.  Burial followed in Duncan Cemetery, Williamsville, MO. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com

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