Linda Kay (Jolley) Watts

Date of birth  - December 29, 1945

Date of death  - February 4, 2023

Linda Kay Jolley Watts of Portland, Oregon passed away on February 4, 2023, at the age of 77.

Linda was born in Salem, Oregon to James “Jim” and France Irene Jolley on December 29, 1945, the oldest of two daughters. Sister Donna Jean arrived March 27, 1947.

Linda graduated from Molalla Union High School with the class of 1964, where she was a cheerleader, active in many clubs, and participant in both Class government and ASB government. She was on the ARROW staff and served as business manager for both her junior and senior year. She also was a class speaker at graduation.

She attended Oregon State University then moved to Portland and worked as a waitress, bank teller, and property manager for her dad before taking a job with UPS at the Customer Counter. Linda remained with UPS for nearly 30 before retiring in 2002. She was considered a personable and knowledgeable team member who loved to indulge the children who came in by giving them treats, stickers, or small toys. At work, she was also known for her unique earring collection, which often celebrated upcoming holidays.

Linda and Benjamin met in 1971 in Portland after being introduced by Ben’s friend who happened to work at the same bank as Linda. The couple married on June 25, 1983. Daughter Cary Renee arrived and joined the family in April of 1985. Linda and Ben celebrated nearly 40 years of marriage and over 50 years together.

In her spare time Linda loved to garden, cook, and bake. She very much enjoyed traveling and visited Hawaii, Mexico, and Japan. Ben and Linda also took cruises to Alaska and the Panama Canal. There were many family camping trips to join Ben’s extended family for bi-annual reunions. Road trips were also included in their excursions where they visited almost every state in America highlighted by major destinations to places like the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, the Black Hills, Arches National Park in Utah, Washington DC, Niagara Falls, New Orleans, and the gulf coast.

Linda was very creative and able to shine in this area while helping to plan many class of 1964 birthday parties (held in off reunion years when high school classmates turned 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, and 75-years old) and class reunions. Decorating, planning centerpieces, and arranging flowers for events came naturally and beautifully embellished the class reunion events. In retirement Linda was able to reconnect with high school lady classmates who met every month for lunch at different restaurants around the Molalla/metro area.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, and her sister who passed just a couple months earlier on November 30, 2022. She is survived by her husband, Benjamin, her daughter, Cary, and her daughter’s partner, Chad.

Linda was laid to rest at River View Cemetery in SW Portland along with her sister’s ashes. No funeral was held, but a celebration of life memorial is planned for September 30, 2023 at the Monarch Hotel in Clackamas, Oregon.