Linda Jo McElvany (née Lee)

Linda Jo McElvany (née Lee), beloved mother, grandmother, educator, and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma, on August 30, 2025, at the age of 80.

Born in Oklahoma City on January 19, 1945, Linda dedicated her life to caring for others, both professionally and personally. She grew up an only child and attended Capitol Hill High School where she met the love of her life, Dean (Doyle) McElvany. While drawn to the California surf and sun, she elected to stay locally and attend OSU while getting involved with the Alpha Chi Omega sorority – something she stayed involved with throughout her adulthood. Linda and Dean lived in Kansas City while he attended dental school, then, upon establishing residence in Edmond, she began her career in education as a counselor serving multiple schools across Oklahoma City. She later earned her Master’s degree, becoming a respected Assistant Principal at Sequoyah Middle School in Edmond. Her compassionate nature and genuine connection with students left a lasting impact, and she remained in touch with many of them long after they graduated.

Linda was known for her friendly, outgoing spirit and her unwavering kindness. She had a gift for making people feel seen and valued, whether through her work in schools, her volunteer efforts with Meals on Wheels, and she was well-known for her slightly extreme obsession with holiday decorating! She taught Sunday school at First Christian Church and was a cherished member of her community Bible study group.

A lifelong lover of tennis, Linda once proudly sported a license plate that read “10-S MOM.” But the underlying theme was one of support. Her nurturing heart was evident in every aspect of her life—from caring for her own mother for two decades, to lovingly supporting her husband Dean and mother-in-law Betty through their health challenges, to the joy she found in being “Yia Yia” to her seven grandchildren. Her role as a grandmother was her greatest pride, and she embraced it with unmatched enthusiasm, hosting sleepovers, organizing family game nights, and ensuring matching pajamas for all the grandkids during holiday gatherings.

Linda was a master at bringing people together. Whether it was hosting poker nights for her son’s friends or planning family get-togethers, she created spaces filled with laughter, love, and connection. Her outlook on life was simple yet profound—she didn’t see the glass as half full or half empty; to her, it was simply full and that was it.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents Jim Lee and Helen Elliott, as well as her step-parents OC Elliott and Betty Lee, her beloved husband, Dean McElvany. She is survived by her daughter Julie Witherspoon of Tomball, TX, and son Matthew McElvany of Santa Rosa, CA; her grandchildren Ella, Ava, Drew, Hadley, Charles, Isla, and Colette; and countless friends, former students, and loved ones whose lives she touched.

A memorial service celebrating Linda’s life will be held on November 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Her legacy of love, compassion, and connection will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be sent to: St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 2101 NW 145th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134