Linda Sue Mistler died after a short illness at Providence Hospital in Everett on Monday, Nov. 7, 2016 at the age of 60. Linda was born Feb. 8, 1956 in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. to High and Ruth (Köene) Williams.

Linda attended Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas. She was a Lariat for the Lasso Team, a service performance and spirit organization, and really knew how to throw a rope. From the beginning, she has devoted her skills and life to nursing, caring and comforting people. Linda was inspired to become a nurse at a very young age.

At age five while her father was stationed in France, he became ill. On Linda’s visits to the hospital she was enamored with the nurses’ beautiful white starched uniforms and caps. She decided to be a nurse when she grew up. She completed Vocational-Nursing School at St. Philip’s College May 1980 to become an LPN.

In 1991 she accompanied her parents to the milder climate of Oak Harbor, Wash. to help care for her ailing father and mother where she met her future husband. In June 2002 she graduated from Whatcom Community College RN program at Bellingham, Wash. Linda has served as a nurse in delivery, emergency and operating rooms. Most of her working career in the area was spent at Naval Hospital Oak Harbor, United General at Sedro-Woolley and Josephine Caring Community in Stanwood, where she worked up until her passing.

A literal and figurative people saver, she also helped bring a few into being. Like most nurses, she learned to eschew beautiful white starched uniforms and caps for brightly patterned and decorated scrub uniforms. Linda is survived by husband Walt Mistler, married 23 years; her son William and his wife Jessi; her son Robert and his wife Nicole; five grandchildren Payton, Harlyn, Autumn, Jynsyn and Liam; sister Gene Reitnauer of Boyd, Texas and her three pugs Eddie, Ozzy and Woody. Linda also has an aunt and cousin, both live in Berlin, Germany. In lieu of flowers, please love one another.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at Oak Harbor Senior Center, 51 SE Jerome St., Oak Harbor.