Linda Pruett was born on Oct. 20, 1953, and passed on July 26, 2018 at 6:55 p.m.   Within her 64, almost 65 years, she packed in so much it would be hard for anyone to keep up.

I think the last line of the lyrics from a song from the Sound of Music – about Maria “How to Solve a Problem,” fits my vision of Linda.

“How do you hold a Moonbeam in your hand?”  That describes Linda, “Our Moonbeam.”

Many will remember Linda as the Cass County Treasurer.  But those of us who loved her and ache with her passing know Linda by other names — daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, friend, companion or just Linda.

I, like so many here, knew Linda as a colleague and above all other things, a friend.  Although Linda was a classmate of my husband, Tom, I first meet her when she worked for Magyar and Swisher and I was a practicing attorney in Dowagiac.

Linda left Magyar & Swisher and was hired by Judge Phillipson in Probate Court.  I followed when I was elected Probate Judge.  During this period of time, she became the Union President.  A short time into my tenure the position of Juvenile Register became open and she convinced me she was the right person for it.  Boy, was she ever the right person.  She managed an extremely difficult budget and taught us the ins and out of the Child Care Fund.  But to Juvenile Court, she was more than that.  She was the soul and heart of the organization.  Linda became more than a colleague.  She became my dear friend.  Our kids were of similar ages and were friends.  I was fortunate to see the additions to her family.  Danny, Jason and all her beautiful grandchildren.  I even remember when Delaney was born.  I was fortunate to be with Linda during all the Civitan functions, Bingo, Spring prom, special Olympics and to have slumber parties where Linda would feed us and we would watch scary movies and Sheree would explain to me when I would scream at the scary parts, “Judge, Chucky not real.”

In 2002, when the position of treasurer opened up, she decided she wanted to apply.   Linda was the underdog for the position.  Linda was highly competitive and decided she would outwork the competition.   She called treasurers in surrounding counties, she reviewed the responsibilities and practiced hypothetical questions for her interview.  After the interview, it was obvious she was the best candidate, and she convinced the swing vote of the three of us, and was selected Treasurer.

Linda loved being the County Treasurer and she was so good at it.  She loved the people that worked for her, she loved the public, she excelled at working with township treasurers and the Board of Commissioners.  If her excellent work wasn’t enough, she would have quarterly Treasurer’s meetings and feed everyone.  Sheriff Underwood would call me and say Linda has a luncheon and we would just show up to be fed.  Linda has many accomplishments as treasurer.  Her most treasured accomplishment was to work with individuals in a cooperative fashion to avoid foreclosure.  The role of treasurer is very difficult when you have to foreclose on someone’s home and she made sure individuals had the opportunity to keep their property. She made huge changes in having dog licenses purchased through the county and at Vet offices, and finally, in creating an atmosphere of trust and confidence in that office.

Linda was a leader as an elected official.  She was Chair of the Republican party and she worked hand in hand with administration on finances and budgeting.  She worked cooperatively with the Board of Commissioners, and if that wasn’t working, she fed them and made them popcorn.  Do you see a theme here?     

I mentioned Maria from the Sound of Music, and Linda would not like the comparison.  I know she would say that Maria is a goody two shoes, but I really think she was more like Mary Poppins.  Mary Poppins had a little bit of a snarky side but did amazing things, just like Linda.

Linda would look and dress differently than Mary Poppins, like maybe red cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, but like Mary Poppins, she would have a great big purse.  In that purse, she would have unlimited things.  Linda loved things.   She would have a recipe book in her purse, and she would make you any kind of dinner that you would want.  Linda was a fabulous cook, and she had a pretty good appetite too.

In that big Mary Poppins purse, she would have photos of her kids and all her beautiful grandkids, her sister, Karen and her beloved niece, Delaney.  She would also have photos of her brother, Greg, and his kids.

In that purse, she would have glitter pens, Longaberger baskets and paint and art supplies.  Because the purse is unlimited, she would have birthday presents for all her friends, Marla, Claire, LeeAnn, Dale, Heidi and everyone else.  Linda loved everybody that worked in the county. She would have a photo of the Dowagiac Class of ’71 and a blanket that said “Go Chieftains.”   She would have red, white and blue baskets for the Republican party, and if you were in need of a half dozen candles for a party, she would have that too in her purse.  She would have a guitar and music machine.  Linda would have things about our county parks because she loved our parks and made sure they would be supported.  She would have half a dozen shoes, and then there was Linda’s clothes in the purse.  Linda’s clothes — her clothes and your clothes that she liked and asked to keep.  Did I say she would have art supplies in that purse?  Linda always won the best door competition at Christmas because she would outspend the competition, and, of course, the door would be beautiful.  Linda’s Christmas list had no boundaries.  She started shopping Dec. 26 and ended Dec. 25 to start up the next day again.

As I said, the purse was unlimited just like her love for daughters, Sheree, Jenny and Pam.  She was an amazing mother.  Her beautiful care of Sheree tells you everything.  And finally, Linda would have Kleenex in that purse to wipe our tears away.

Her love for her family and friends was unlimited.  Linda’s dedication and perseverance shone through in everything she did.  Her commitment to her work, family, friends and community, as well as the volunteering she involved herself in, is irreplaceable.  God gave us a gift when he gave us Linda.  That gift was expressed in the way she made us feel.  Reverend Bill Bruneau said we were not saying goodbye to Linda, just saying see you later.  Besides, like Mary Poppins, there is no way to catch a cloud and pin it down.  How do you find the word that means Linda?  How do you hold a Moonbeam in your hand?

Rest in peace, sweet friend.

Written by Judge Susan Dobrich on behalf of Linda’s County friends.