Linda Jean Wernecke, 46, left us March 8, 2004, after a courageous three- year battle with cancer. Linda was born in Tampa, Fla., Jan. 13, 1958. She was a 10-year veteran of the United States Air Force, where she met and married her husband Scot on March 1, 1986, in San Antonio, Texas. She and Scott moved to Whidbey Island in 1991.

Linda’s greatest joys were her husband Scott, her children, her grandchildren and times spent with The Whidbey Cruzers car club, Mariners baseball team and the Elks Lodge, as well as Pacific Northwest Metropolitan Club. She was passionate about her teal-green 1958 Nash Metropolitan, affectionately named, Half-Pint. Linda loved to vacation on the Washington coast with her family.

Linda’s civil service career was as a lead security assistant at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Security Police Department. She was a regional Training coordinator, where she was loved and admired by all who worked with her.

Linda was the American Red Cross “Real Hero” Award recipient for 2002; received the Education Excellence Award by the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, the Outstanding Public Service Award for 1997, the Master Instructor Award in 1992 and the Master Instructor Award in 1992 and NCO of the Year in 1982, as well as Senior Enlisted Instructor of the Year in 1984.

Linda’s local community attributes include founder of the National Night Out Against Crime celebration for the past 10 years. She also founded the Island County Passenger Safety Team instituted aboard NAS Whidbey, Safe House and Block Watch programs, Oak Harbor Elks Lodge officer, and contributed to all children’s programs with total enthusiasm. Linda was instrumental in helping the youth programs at the Roller Barn as a board member of Partnership with Youth and was always active with her sons in Boy Scouts of America.

Linda has many more accomplishments, too numerous to mention. She leaves behind many beloved friends and a huge impact on all our lives.

Linda is survived by her devoted husband, Scott and two sons, Errick and Lance, all of Oak Harbor; one daughter Rebecca Chapman and husband Dan and grandchildren, Dewey and Veronica Jean, all of Gulf Shores, Ala.; by her mother Patricia Weekly of Coupeville; by one sister-in-law Terri Vernon and husband Stacy and Nephew Ryan, all of Belt, Mont.; uncle Charles Goodman, Jr. of Meritt Island, Fla., and her aunt, Polly Townsley of Las Vegas. Several cousins, nieces and nephews, also survive.

Her sister, Susan Hernandez, preceded Linda in death, along with her beloved grandparents Virginia and Charles Goodman of Tampa, Fla. and Aunt Judith Kordik of Chattanooga, Tenn.

A celebration of Linda’s life will be held at First Reformed Church of Oak Harbor, 250 SW Third Ave., Tuesday, March 16, at noon with Pastor David Lura officiating. A reception for family and friends will follow at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge, 155 NE Ernst St., Oak Harbor. Memorials may be made to the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge No. 2362, in Linda’s name.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor. On-line obituary is at http://burley.plan4ever.com.