Linda Lee Thaut, 71, of Ocean Shores, WA, passed away December 18, 2021 in Edmonds, WA, after a valiant battle with cancer. Linda was born March 21, 1950 in Mt. Vernon, WA. She was the first born child of Merle T. and Betty L. (Burton) Sinnes.
Linda’s young childhood was spent growing up on the farm in Conway, WA until the family moved to Yakima, WA in 1963. There, she attended Davis High School, graduating in 1968, and then went on to pursue a career in Cosmetology at Mr. Lee’s School of Beauty. She worked at Pandora’s Salon before opening her own home salon in the early 1980’s. Linda loved her work, and was a talented hairdresser, who had a knack at creating the look her clients had always hoped for, (even those 70’s perms!). But she always felt that the best gift her work brought her, were all the wonderful life-long friendships she made throughout her 40-year long career.
Linda and Gerald Dicus were married in 1970, their marriage ending in divorce in 1977. She later met and married Jerry Hafsos in February 1980. They enjoyed a great life together in Yakima, until he passed way in January of 1997. A few years later, Doug Thaut entered Linda’s life. In August 1999 they were married, and in that same month, made the move to Ocean Shores, WA, as Doug had taken a new position at the WA State Department of Corrections in Aberdeen, WA. They lived a very happy life at the beach until Doug passed away on December 24, 2013. Linda continued to live in Ocean Shores until her death.
Linda was a “people person”, with an outgoing, gregarious nature, who never met a stranger. She always loved spending time with our large extended family, and her many friends. She also enjoyed being involved in her community. She was a member of the Yakima Eagles Drill Team, a volunteer for the Ocean Shores Chamber of Commerce, a long-time member of the Ocean Shores Pirates, and the Ocean Shores “Chicks”, all of whom she loved traveling with, enjoying happy hour gatherings, and supporting her favorite team, the Seattle Seahawks. Linda was a master at indoor and outdoor gardening. Everything she grew flourished, due to the love and care she gave to her “plant buddies”. She also had a love and talent for interior decorating. Her favorite place was the beach, any beach! Her lifelong interests also included clam digging, crabbing, fishing and camping trips with family and friends, and traveling.
Linda is survived by her brother, Gary (Joan) Sinnes and their four children, and four grandchildren; Jeremy (Lindsay) Sinnes and Calleigh; Jennifer Sinnes-Hayden, and Austin; Heather-Sinnes (Coco) Riel and Jayden; Amanda (Michelle) Sinnes and Chloe; her sister, Christine Sinnes-(David) Wilson, and their two children and four grandchildren; Justin (Shawna) Wilson and Caitlin; Megan-Wilson (Michael) Stewart, and Taylor, Aidan and Finlay; her step-daughters and step-grandchildren, Lynn-Thaut (Josh) Fletcher and Mason; Andrea-Hafsos (Ivan) Mott, and Julia; and Michelle-Hafsos (Shawn) Brantingham, Makenna (Rodrigo) Morales, Lachlan and Remi, and Kora Braden. Her step-brothers, Brad (Barb) Sears, their three children, and nine grandchildren; Robb (Crystal) Sears, their son and four grandchildren; her step niece and nephews and their children and grandchildren; Stephanie Brown, Jeff (Lita) Brown, their two children, and three grandchildren; Chris (Karen) Brown and their four children, and four grandchildren; her step-sister Paula (Dan) Regimbal, their two children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild; and numerous other Sinnes, Burton, Hafsos and Thaut aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family members. Linda found great joy in all of her extended family, be they blood or step relatives, in her “adopted daughter”, Kristy Willis and family, and all of her many friends.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Merle and Betty (Burton) Sinnes; her second husband, Gerald (Jerry) Hafsos, her third husband, Douglas (Doug) Thaut; her two half-brothers, Robert Kerr and Thomas Kerr; her step-father D. Dean Sears; her step-sister and step-brother-in-law, Sharon (Sears) Brown and Robert (Bob) Brown; her step-son-in-law, Lance Braden; her beloved best friend, Patti McCall, and numerous other family members and friends.
Linda’s generous, caring nature will be missed by so many. A Celebration of Her Life will take place on Sunday, March 13, 2022, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, at the Lake Wilderness Lodge, 22500 SE 248th St., Maple Valley, WA 98038. Lunch will be served, and your memories of Linda will be welcomed. A private family/close friends, witness of interment with her husband Doug, will be held on Monday, March 14th, 2022 at 11:00 am, at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St., Kent, WA 98042.
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.