Linda Lee Lancaster, 64, died Nov. 13, 2013, in Snohomish, Wash.
A gentle soul with a heart of gold, she was born Oct. 1, 1949, in Newport News, Va., to James and Beatrice Lancaster.
An accomplished athlete, Linda spent her early childhood in Medina, Wash., where she was undoubtedly one of the first girls in the country to play on a boys Little League team, the Pointers. After her family moved to New Orleans, La., Linda became the New Orleans junior metro tennis champion.
Linda graduated from Slidell (La.) High School in 1968, and attended Louisiana State University.
In 1969, she returned to the Seattle region, where she attended Bellevue Community College.
A lifelong animal lover, Linda worked first for the Humane Society for Seattle/King County, then later for King County Animal Control, from which she retired in 2001.
She was also a talented musician and an accomplished artist, and displayed a keen interest in science, especially astronomy.
Linda loved children and was devoted to her niece and nephew, Kasey and Zachary Crawford of Snohomish, Wash.
In addition to her niece and nephew, Linda is survived by her mother, Beatrice; brother, Gary, of Delaware, Ohio; and sisters, Susan Vonderhaar (Alan), of Cincinnati, and Joan Crawford (William), of Snohomish.
She was preceded in death by her father, James, and sister-in-law, Beth Lancaster.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Humane Society for Seattle/King County.