GLENBURN – Linda Tammany (Pluard) Estes went to be with her Lord Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011, surrounded by family and friends after a long and courageous battle with liver disease. Linda was born June 10, 1954, the eldest child of Winifred (Harris) Orcutt of Charleston and Darrell Eugene Pluard Sr. of Smyrna Mills.
Linda grew up in Clewlyville amongst numerous cousins, most of whom kept her busy “babysitting” throughout her teenage years. Linda graduated from Brewer High School as a member of the National Honor Society in 1972. Putting a post-secondary education on hold, Linda spent the next several years traveling around the country as a military wife, giving birth to a daughter, Brandi, in 1977, and a son, Jeremy, in 1978. Ironically, it was during these years of child rearing and travel that Linda realized she had a special gift; working mostly as a part-time waitress and bartender, she became an astute “listener.” Her unique ability to secure the confidence of strangers, listen and advise led to a career as a substance abuse counselor and caregiver for adults with developmental disabilities. Linda graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor of Science degree in social services in 1994 and began a new career, in which she excelled and dedicated countless hours volunteering with the Special Olympics, touching hundreds of lives during this brief career, until she was forced into retirement for medical reasons in 2009. Linda married Eric Estes of Alton in August 2008 and loved weekend trips on the motorcycle and summer strolls though the small shops of Bar Harbor with her sister-in-law, Georgia. During her retirement Linda enjoyed countless evenings at the lake surrounded by loons, hummingbirds and seemingly endless sunsets. Among her favorite pastimes, however, none were more valued for Linda than spending time with the young children of the family. Something about the way she cared for the family’s young ones; her charming demeanor and the way she inspired happiness in them by smiling and laughing and listening to them. She was a loving grandmother to her own grandchildren and to the numerous great-nieces and great-nephews who were fortunate enough to hear one of her famous bedtime stories. Linda was so inspiring throughout her life that through her successes and even through her failures, she taught lessons of life and the achievement of true happiness. She showed us that there is no true limit to how much we can love or how much love we can give. She was an everlasting spring of love, sharing it with all of the lives she touched.
Linda will forever be lovingly remembered by her husband, Eric Estes of Glenburn; her son, Jeremy and his wife, Selena, of Seattle, and grandchildren, Tylea, Jasmine, Peyton, Jorden, Nolan and Miah; her daughter, Brandi of Seattle, and grandchildren, Cameron and Raeann; son, Ericson and his wife, Roxanne, and grandson, Kyle, of LaGrange; brother, Darrell “Bub” and his wife, Georgia, of Dedham; brother, David and his wife, Kim, of Prospect; sister, Kim and her husband, Mark, of Levant; special sister-in-law, Joanna and her husband, David, of Bangor; as well as numerous uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins. Linda was predeceased by father, Darrell, in October 1979; mother, Winifred, in July 1986; and sister, Lori, in July 2011.
A celebration of Linda’s life will take place 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the home of brother, Bub and Georgia, 46 Thompson Road, Dedham. In lieu of flowers, please send donations on her behalf to Special Olympics of Maine, attention: Linda, 125 John Roberts Road #19, South Portland, ME 04106. Arrangements are under the direction of Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 28 Elm St., Bucksport.