Linda Suzanne Greer

Linda entered this world in August 1954 born to Anne and Marvin Greer in Joplin, Missouri. With the assistance of a grant from St. John Hospital she completed nursing program and received the Dr. Kun achievement award upon graduation. She later earned her Masters of Nursing from Texas Women’s University. After gaining experience as a nurse Linda felt the calling to be a nurse midwife and was accepted into a Georgetown University Nurse Midwifery program near the Texas southern border working with Sister Angela at Su Clinica Familar. She became a certified Nurse Midwife in July of 1980. After leaving the area, she would fly back to Harlingen and volunteer and work in the birthing center to provide respite for the nuns. In 1989, Linda met the love of her life, Karen. At that time she was employed by Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. The call of the beauty of the Pacific Northwest brought them to WA where much camping and hiking occurred. In year 2000, she received the most generous gift of a heart transplant on 10 July. After her retirement in 2012, she volunteered in the tuberculosis program at the Health Department until COVID. In 2017, after kidney cancer and almost 5 years on dialysis, she received another transplant- a kidney which she lovingly named Georgie after her grandfather. Pragmatic, courageous, resourceful and quick witted, Linda maintained her sense of humor throughout the most trying of times. She was known for her compassion for the hungry, homeless, and those in times of need. Just one example is her coordinating Bethany’s Sandwich Brigade which made over 6,000 sandwiches for the homeless during COVID. Linda was grateful for the 22+ years of life granted her through the gift of organ transplants. She enjoyed the simple things of life – roof over her head, food on the table, listening to the birds sing, warm clothing, etc… Many often called Nurse Linda for her medical knowledge and advice. She is survived by brothers Marvin, JR., Tommy, Doug, and sister Donna, innumerable nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews as well as her loving wife Karen. Memorial donations may be made to Nourish Pierce County. Service to be held at Bethany Presbyterian Church, Tacoma