Linda McCall

Linda Ann (Bell) McCall was born Nov. 17, 1943, to Keith D. Bell and Wava B. (Plummer) Bell in Atlantic. She passed away Jan. 19, 2021, at Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston.

Linda grew up in rural Cass County, attending a one room country school. The family later moved to rural Adair and she graduated from Adair-Casey high school in 1961. She attended one year at Iowa Methodist Nursing School.

On March 17, 1962, she married Gaylord McCall in Maryville, Missouri. To this union three children were born: Susan, Monte and Kelly. Together they farmed in Massena, Nevinville and the McCall century farm near Fontanelle. Linda ran a dairy many years and also maintained a large garden, orchards and brought in a new batch of chicks each spring to raise for butchering.

During the long cold winters, Linda would begin making lists and planning annual summer vacations. At the end of every summer before school started, the family would pack up a camper and several weeks of supplies and usually travel west.

The family moved to Orient in 1979. Gaylord began driving truck over the road. Linda was able to join Gaylord as a team driver in 1985. Together the two of them drove across country for several companies for over five million miles. Gaylord and Linda retired in 2007. After retirement, the two traveled in their RV with their bronco across the United States. They were married over 50 years.

Throughout her life, Linda also loved to cook and spend time with her family. She loved to read, quilt and crochet. She was a gifted seamstress and won the 4-H Iowa State Fair Dress Review when she was 16. Her matching family outfits that she crafted for vacations were part of family legend. She continued to enjoy gardening and traveling. She was able to visit England, Scotland, France, Canada and Alaska in recent years.

Linda was a member of Avondale United Methodist Church and Sunshine Club and Orient Library Book Club. She volunteered many hours to the church and the community.

Linda was preceded in death by her husband Gaylord, her parents Keith and Wava Bell, her in-laws Clayton and Ardith McCall.

She is survived by her children: Susan McCall Hartmann of Des Moines, Monte (Janie) McCall of Osceola and Kelly (Bingta) McCall of Winterset; her grandchildren: Kayla (Don) Boynton, Amanda Alexander, Sera Alexander and Addison Hartmann; five great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; brother Keith Bell (Larry Conly) of Alexandria, Virginia; brother-in-law Steve King of Indianola.

Private family services were held. The Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield was in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.