Linda Gail Channell, 75, of Vero Beach, passed away on May 9, 2016.
She is survived by her dedicated husband of 60 years, Robert “Bob!!!” Channell, QMCS (SS) USN, retired; her three daughters, Michelle Gasco (Billy), Karen Vincent (Steve), and Robin Gillis (Mike); her two sons, Michael and David Channell and his significant other Karen McKelvey; grandchildren Beth, Marc, Billy, Caitlin, Chelsea, Jennifer, George, Alex, Jason and Chris; great-grandchildren Samantha, Liam, Toby, Eli, Liliana, and Kimber; sisters Bev, Nora, Sharon and Dee.
She was preceded in death by her mother Dorothy; father Leonard; step-father Brud; and brother Jack.
Channell was an amazing woman who happily wore many titles in her storied life: daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law, aunt, neighbor and friend. She thoroughly enjoyed being around family, reminiscing about her life’s travels and adventures and possessed an uncanny ability to recall even the most intricate details about family events.
She was born in Danvers, Mass., on Nov. 7, 1940. After attending Grafton High School, she married her childhood sweetheart (and Navy submariner), Bob, and they embarked on a 20-year journey with stops at duty stations in Virginia, Connecticut, Utah and Hawaii.
Channell flourished in the challenging job of being a Navy wife and raising five children while Bob was traversing the ocean’s depths during numerous deployments in service to his country. When Bob was not at sea, in between duty stations or on his only shore duty billet, they traveled all over the country as a family, accumulating good times and memories that would be recalled on countless occasions during family gatherings over the years. Nothing gave her more pleasure than to reminisce about her life’s adventures during these events, and she told these stories exactly as she remembered them (whether it was what actually happened or not). And when you got right down to it, her version of many a story was funnier and more entertaining than what probably happened!
After Bob’s retirement from the Navy, they lived for a while in Pennsylvania and in several homes in Massachusetts. Because of her disdain of the cold, harsh New England weather, they eventually settled in Vero Beach, where she basked in the perpetual humidity that is Florida.
After living in several trailers and a condo, they had a house built to suit all of their needs. While they took root in Vero, their travels continued with visits to relatives in England; driving to all the state capitols and presidential libraries; participating in balloon races in New Mexico; enjoying cruises from ports out of Florida and New Orleans; and taking numerous visits to see their children and grandchildren celebrate birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries and during holidays.
Although Channell has always been the one to tell us of stories reminding us of days past over the last several decades, it is now our turn to fondly remember the woman who has meant so much to many of us. We will pass down these stories of her to our children, grandchildren and friends so that her memory endures the test of time.
When we all meet again in Heaven, Linda will be there waiting for us to tell stories of her new adventures, complaining about how cold it is up here and asking why no one thought to bring her a sweater. Because of all the memories you’ve created and shared with us, you will never be forgotten.
An online guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.
