Linda Christine Kelsey
Linda Christine Kelsey
Dec. 31, 1949 – May 30, 2023
Linda Christine Kelsey is back in the arms of her loving mama and papa that she has missed for more than 60 years. In a way that only Linda could pull off, she chose the day and time that she left us, May 30, 2023. Linda was 73 years old. She passed peacefully at the North Big Horn Hospital in Lovell with her daughter, family and her favorite cousin, Will Tillett, by her side. Any moment spent with Linda was a moment to be celebrated.
Linda made her appearance into this world on Dec. 31, 1949, New Year’s Eve. She was born in Lovell to Pearl and Jay Kelsey, the youngest of six kids, joining Donald Jay, Patricia Ethel, Robert Bruce, James Franklin and Sharron Kay. She grew up on Crooked Creek at the family homestead. After her mama and papa passed, she moved to Lovell to stay with her oldest brother, Donald, and his wife, LaRae. Linda always loved life on the creek and moved back out to Crooked Creek to live with her oldest sister, Patsy, and her husband, Roger.
Linda never liked to brag or boast about her accomplishments, and there were many. But her greatest accomplishments that she was the proudest of were her son, Barry Jay, and her daughter, Brandy Pearl.
Linda was an amazing cook. Whether it was on a campfire, in a restaurant or at home, it was the best food you could ever ask for. She cooked in restaurants and cafes in Montana, Wyoming, Nevada and Arizona. She cooked in the hospital and nursing home in Ely, Nevada, where she became the head dietician. Her fried chicken was simply amazing. Linda always said recipes are best shared with friends and family so everyone could enjoy them.
She decided to come home to Lovell in 2017 to retire and live with Brook, Brandy and her two granddaughters, Masey and Larissa Tippetts. She loved watching Masey and Larissa in all their school functions and other projects. She loved to visit with the girls and tell them stories about her life as a young wild child. She shared her knowledge and her know-how to everyone whether you wanted her advice or not.
When she got home to Lovell she spent as much time as she could in Dry Head at her favorite place, Hank’s cabin. She always said she wanted to be put under her favorite tree with her sleeping bag and a bottle of BV and left there until she was gone. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make that happen for her, but she was OK with it and made the best of the situation.
Almost anyone who ever met and knew Linda loved her. She was a caretaker of all. She would help anyone that needed help, and she was always happy to do so. She had a wealth of knowledge when it came to Crooked Creek and the areas surrounding Lovell, in general, and she loved to share her stories with everyone.
Linda was preceded in death by her father, Jay Kelsey; mother Pearl Kelsey; brothers James Franklin Kelsey, Donald Jay Kelsey and Robert “Bob” Bruce Kelsey; and sisters Patricia Ethel Marchant and Sharron Kay Ostler.
Linda is survived by her son, Barry Jay Kelsey, grandson Sebastian Schultz, daughter Brandy (Brook) Tippetts, granddaughters Masey Tippetts and granddog Tug and Larissa Tippetts and grandcats Sap and Lazor, Pony and Morrigan Shultz, whom she loved very much, and many nieces and nephews.
Cremation has already taken place. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.