Linda Kathryn Cole Buxton of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma passed away on May 23, 2024, at the age of 74. Linda was born on March 7, 1950, the oldest of five daughters, to Robert and Delia Mae Cole in Oklahoma City. The Cole family moved to Guymon soon afterwards, and Linda grew up participating in activities such as band, student council, and National Honor Society before she graduated from Guymon High School in 1968. Upon graduation, she attended Panhandle State College for one year and transferred to the University of Oklahoma where she completed an accelerated course of study, earning her bachelor's degree in education in 1971. Linda married Carroll Buxton, her high school sweetheart, on May 29, 1970, and the couple made their home in Oklahoma City as active members of Northwest Baptist Church. Linda began her teaching career at Creston Hills Fifth-Year Center in Oklahoma City Public Schools in 1972.

Linda paused her professional teaching career to stay home with her three boys and support Carroll as he opened Buxton Ford in Crescent. After Carroll's career took them to Ardmore, she served as the nursery coordinator at First Baptist Church of Ardmore and resumed teaching in Ardmore Public Schools in 1987. Eventually, the Buxton family made their way back to Oklahoma City, where Linda served as a teacher, and curriculum specialist for Putnam City Schools. Linda continued to pursue excellence in her profession by earning a master's degree in 2001 and completing her National Board Certification in 2002. She retired from Putnam City Schools in 2009, after a distinguished career of teaching hundreds of children to read and enjoy learning. She was an active supporter of her children's and grandchildren's activities, and she used all of her best strategies to keep them learning and having fun during the summers they spent at her house. For the past 10 years, Linda and Carroll have been faithful members of Putnam City Baptist Church, and are grateful for the support of their church family through Linda's extended illness.

Linda was preceded in death by her father Bob, mother Dee, and sister Carol Ann. She is survived by Carroll, her loving husband of 54 years; her son Brad and his wife Laura, her son Robert and his wife Jennifer, and her son David; her sisters Diana and brother-in-law Kern Jackson, Becky and brother-in-law Clark Jett, Mary Beth and brother-in-law Steve Young, brother-in-law Raymond Buxton and wife Dianna, and sister-in-law Brenda Buxton; grandchildren Tristan and his wife Haley, Kayin and his partner Addie, Katy, Emma, and Abby; and great-grandchildren Atlas, Evelynn, and Ellianna. She will be greatly missed by numerous nieces, nephews, family members, lifelong friends, devoted caregivers, and her loyal companion Buck, the family dog that loved Linda more than anyone else in the world.

The family invites you to join them for a celebration of Linda's life on Saturday, June 1st at 10:30 am at Putnam City Baptist Church, 11401 North Rockwell Avenue in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.