Madelyn Sue Linton

Madelyn Sue McCray Linton, 75, of Frederick, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at her home, following a long and courageous fight against cancer. She was born on December 3, 1935, in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. She has resided in Frederick since 1968.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Herbert Bruce Linton, her daughter, Yvonne Ruwe and her husband William of Edmond, Oklahoma; her son, Daniel, his wife Jeanette and their children Nathaniel and Elizabeth of Buckeystown; and her son Thomas, his wife Lauri and their son Dylan of Park City, Utah; two sisters Barbara Boone and her husband Robert of Greenville, South Carolina, and Audrey Menzies and her husband Robert of Decatur, Illinois; and 13 beloved nieces and nephews and their families. Madelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Elwin and Doris McCray, and a brother Phillip.

Madelyn lived in New Concord, Ohio, from 1937 until 1948 when her family moved to East Lansing, Michigan, where her father served on the journalism faculty at Michigan State University. She graduated from East Lansing High School in 1953. She had dreamed of being a famous singer, but had always wanted to be a nurse. She attended Michigan State for two years and was then accepted to the Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating in 1958 with a BSN, she was a Head Nurse at University Hospital in Cleveland. At this time, when Madelyn felt God's leading for a change, she was invited to join the staff of Nurses Christian Fellowship (part of IVCF). She traveled among the nursing schools in Ohio, Indiana, and upstate New York for two years in ministry to the nursing students, at which point she left staff and married Bruce on November 9, 1963. They lived in Solon, Ohio, until moving to Frederick in 1968 where they raised their family.

She worked in a variety of nursing positions in the Frederick area for over 30 years, including HomeCall, Shady Grove Hospital, and the Frederick County Health Department. She helped start the school nurse program with the Frederick County School System in 1992. She retired in 1998.

A constant example of serving in the church, Madelyn helped lead several youth groups, served on Mission Committees, led and participated in Women's Bible studies, and mentored many younger women. She also volunteered at the Frederick County Hepatitis C Clinic and the Care Net Pregnancy Center. Among her many other activities and interests were baking pies, quilting, making hand-sewn Pooh Bears for newborns, traveling, camping, and her grandchildren. For 15 years, she was a tireless and dedicated Swim Team Mom. Her love of singing, hospitality, and beautiful smile will be missed by many.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church Street, Frederick. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 15 from Fredericktowne Baptist Church, 8645 Biggs Ford Road, Walkersville, MD 21793. Officiating will be Pastor Todd Heishman of Fredericktowne Baptist Church, and Pastor Tracy Troxel.

Interment will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick.

Memorial donations can be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators (wycliffe.org), pioneers.org, or caringbridge.org.