Linda Marrou-Cole lived with dedication and love for those around her.  As a wife, mother, friend, neighbor, teacher, coach, sister, daughter, and grandmother she invested in others through her heart-felt commitment. She was the epitome of the word selfless, always ensuring the needs of others were met before her own.

Born in Gothenburg, Nebraska on June 10, 1948, Linda Lee Marrou spent the first eleven years of her life in Cabimas, Venezuela.  There she grew up with her brothers Gary and Dale, climbed mango trees, and learned to speak Spanish.  When her family had to visit the states, they would always spend time with her extended family in Nebraska. Upon her father's retirement, Linda moved to Fort Collins, Colorado with her family.

In 1973, Linda met Dennis Cole with whom she built a life and marriage for forty-seven years.  They were active campers, often venturing across the Southwest. Since they were both teaching at Hinkley H.S., they had time in the summer to enjoy bicycle touring.  Their adventures took them from relative to relative across the plains to southern Indiana. Later they took on the challenge of the Pacific Coast Highway and even got acquainted with relatives in Denmark, all on bike. The adventures became different following the births of Christopher and Stephanie.

As a teacher, Linda led business classes at Hinkley H.S. and sponsored Future Business Leaders of America for 11 years. Her students frequently qualified for the national contests and she was always accompanying them to nationals and in other activities such as ski weekends.  Following her time at home with Christopher and Stephanie, she taught at Manual H.S. and Central H.S. In 2002, Linda received a Masters Degree in Information Learning Technology and harnessed this training in her Web Design and Multimedia classes.

Linda also dedicated herself to her community.  As block captain, she created neighborhood phone trees and organized an annual block party for over forty years.  Another community that Linda supported is Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church.  Throughout Christopher and Stephanie's childhood, Linda's volunteering encompassed her children's activities.  Until both of her children turned six, Linda taught Sunday School and participated in Summer Bible School.  For the eighteen years that her children sang in the Cantate, Timbrel, and Jubilate choirs, Linda helped organize the annual choir appreciation luncheon for director John Kuzma.  Linda also organized intermission refreshments every year for twenty years for Montview's Musique and Masque performances.  Stephanie joined these performances at the age of five and Christopher followed suit in his teenage years. Upon retirement, Linda volunteered weekly for 11 years in Montview's Publication Department and served on the Communications Committee.

During her children's youth, Linda stayed home for nearly nine years.  She supported activities for both Christopher and Stephanie.  One of her most outstanding roles was as a coach for both children's Odyssey of the Mind (OM) teams.  She was given the title OM Mom because of the way she cared for and often fed each member of her teams.  Linda earned the honor of coaching two teams that placed first in the state of Colorado and qualified to compete nationally.

Stephanie, Scott, Skyler (13) and Spencer (9) live in Centennial, Colorado which has allowed them to spend a lot of time with Grammie. They were the light of her life. Skyler and Spencer  each developed a special bond with Grammie during their weekly day together (until they started Kindergarten). Grammie even volunteered one day a week for Skyler's kindergarten class. Spencer would write love notes to her like "I love you to the moon and back" and always said "Grammie, be with me." Skyler and Spencer loved going to Grammie's, having sleepovers, and shopping in her pantry. Grammie's house was a place of love and pampering for them. She always spoiled them with their favorite foods and activities. Linda imparted her love for cooking upon us, frequently preparing her favorite family recipes for our family gatherings and teaching us the intricacies of how to make them too. In recent years, Stephanie and Scott took over the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner under Linda's tutelage. Linda taught each of us how to be the best version of ourselves and will be forever in our hearts.

Christopher, Monica, Wesley (11), Jared (5), and Caleb (2 months) live in Atlanta, Georgia. Despite the distance, Grammie made it a point to nurture her relationship with Wesley and Jared. They received cards from Papaw and Grammie and also routinely met with them through video calls. Wesley, in particular, loved cooking with Papaw and Grammie. He also offered Grammie the joy of hearing about his French lessons and seeing him perform an Irish dance at one of his rehearsals. Jared, when visiting, would engage Grammie by immediately bringing her a book to read to him and making certain she had her water. He also would cutely sing over and over the lyrics "Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water." That song held fast in Linda's mind.

Linda focused on doing the things that she loved with her grandchildren, among them canning, baking cookies, and churning cranberry relish. Linda's love for her grandchildren continued as she fought against cancer. That same love now lives on, not only in her grandchildren, but also in so many people she touched throughout her life.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 10:00 am at Montview Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia St, Denver, CO 80220 in the Miller Center with a reception to follow.