Linda Kay Boote passed away August 13, 2015 at her home under the care of hospice and her family, after losing a 4-year struggle with colon cancer. Linda was born December 16, 1949 in Elwood, Indiana of Neal and Mary Vestal. She was the oldest of three girls. Her parents have predeceased her.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Jay Boote, her daughter Felisa Ann Savage, granddaughter Kyra Cay Savage 12 years and grandson Brennan Neal Savage 9 years, sister Brenda Neese of Anderson, Indiana, and sister Cathy Gordon of Douglas, Michigan.
Linda graduated in 1967 from Frankton High School, Frankton, Indiana and went to Purdue University, graduating with a B.S. degree in Psychology in 1974. Linda and Ken met on September 12, 1967, Ken’s birthday, at a freshman first-nighter at Purdue University. She married Kenneth Jay Boote on July 15, 1969 in Frankton, Indiana. Their daughter Felisa was born in 1971. In 1974, Linda and Ken came to the University of Florida, where he joined as Assistant Professor in the Agronomy Department. Linda completed a B.S. degree in Accounting at the University of Florida while working as a secretary. She was a Certified Professional Accountant, and took an accounting position with the University of Florida starting in 1983. She retired in 2003 after the birth of her granddaughter.
Linda was a doting grandmother to Kyra and her brother Brennan, both caring for them and mentoring them. She frequently served as a class aid in their school and joined her grandchildren for lunch at school. She enjoyed beach vacations, mountain vacations, trips for family reunions, and travel with Ken to professional meetings. Linda was an avid Gator sports fan, enjoying football, basketball, and baseball with season tickets. She played tennis in her younger years, and played golf during the past 10-15 years. She enjoyed going to lunch with friends several times per week. Linda’s talents as wife, mother, grandparent, mentor, and friend, will be very sorely missed. The world is a better place because of the life she lived.
Memorial Services for Linda will be held Saturday, August 29, 11:00am at Trinity United Methodist Church – Chapel, Gainesville, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Linda’s name to Moffitt Cancer Center (www.moffitt.org/give-back/donate).
