WINTER HAVEN - Linda McCarty Thibodeaux, 66, originally from Bethlehem, Georgia before moving to Winter Haven, Florida in 1974, died on December 16, 2009 at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale, Florida from complications of heart disease.   Mrs. Thibodeaux is survived by two daughters, Amy Thibodeaux Lanpher (Bob) and Tracy Thibodeaux Hanus (Joe) and three granddaughters, Ashley Lanpher, Kara Lanpher and Kayleigh Lanpher all of Winter Haven.   She is preceded in death by her parents, Harry McCarty and Jeffie Lou Edwards McCarty. 

Mrs. Thibodeaux’s ambition in life was to be a loving and caring person in all areas of her life.  She succeeded at this in many ways.  She taught pre-kindergarten for many years at First Baptist Christian School, Winter Haven, where the students fondly knew her as “Miss Linda.”  That respectful title stayed with her throughout her life because she was so warmly thought of by her family, friends and co-workers.  For several years she worked in the office of the counseling department at Polk community college.  It was during that time that she began taking college courses, which prompted her interest in business management and marketing.  Her interest was heightened when she began her career with Winter Haven Hospital’s Education Department.  She completed her career at the hospital in Development, Marketing and Public Relations where she was able to put her people skills to work every day.  She coordinated a speaker’s bureau, offered her clerical skills to many support groups, answered hundreds of community, healthcare questions daily and helped people locate physicians in the area. All of these tasks answered her need to be helpful.  Mrs. Thibodeaux’s career at Winter Haven Hospital spanned 22 years.  

Mrs. Thibodeaux kept busy in her spare time by acting as secretary to the Seville Board of Directors for her condo association in Orchid Springs and by working on Saturday afternoons at her daughter’s card and gift shop.  Early in Mrs. Thibodeaux’s Christian life, she was a member of the of the Baptist Faith, but after moving to Winter Haven in the early 1970’s, she became a member of the St. John’s United Methodist Church of Winter Haven.  She enjoyed the music there and was a member of several women’s organizations at the church.  With her warm and loving personality, she lived a life of caring and dedication to family and friends. 

Visitation with the family will be Friday, December 18 between the hours of 6 and 8 PM at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 2425 Havendale Blvd. Winter Haven, Florida.  A memorial service will be held at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 1800 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven, Florida on Saturday, December 19 at  11 AM.  Burial will follow in her hometown of Bethlehem, Georgia. 

If you would like to make a donation in her memory to one of her favorite organizations:  National Psoriasis Foundation, PO Box 3469, Portland, OR 97208-3469 (designate research) or Winter Haven Hospital Foundation, 200 Ave F NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881.  Condolences to the family can be sent to:  www.oakridgefuneralcare.com.