Linda M Tarpley

Linda M. Tarpley, affectionately known as "Dee", retired from life peacefully in her home on October 4, 2026, in Lorain, Ohio.

Born on December 9,1950, in Charleston, West Virginia, Linda was the eldest daughter of the late Sterling R. Lewis and Libby Lewis. After spending her early childhood years in Mount Vernon, Ohio, Linda and her family relocated to Lorain, Ohio where she graduated from the original Lorain High School in 1969.

Linda was a mother of two children during her 30-year marriage, yet she was a mother to dozens more through her self-owned daycare, "Dee's Little Angels", which she successfully operated for 16 years.

Owning her own daycare business was one of Linda's greatest accomplishments. She started "Dee's Little Angels" in 1994 and took pride in providing the children with structure and teaching them manners. All children behaved well under her care and their parents were very grateful and appreciative. As adults, her own grandchildren would tease Linda, by saying her business should have been called "Dee's Little Boot Camp!"

Family was the center of Linda's world! She enjoyed family gatherings and being silly with her grandchildren until the room was filled with tears and laughter. Linda loved to dance, listen to R&B & Rap music and watch movies with her grandson. Daily, she looked forward to phone calls with either her sisters, mother, children, grandchildren and video calls with her great-grandson. However, phone calls became limited on Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire, or any cop-show night. She even spoke the 911 emergency lingo just to make us all laugh.

Linda had a gravitating personality that drew in strangers from all walks of life. Even during her hospital stays, you would find most of the nurses laughing in her room and sharing their life stories. She was a life coach to so many before the title was heard of. Linda was very giving and went out of her way to provide for family and friends. She enjoyed treating others out to eat and cooking for her family. She loved to order "Alexis" to play Gospel music loud while she was cooking and entertaining. Her favorite food dishes were pot roast, spaghetti and fried potatoes and favorite requested desserts were brownies, rice pudding, sweet potato pies and yum yum delight!

Linda's most outstanding attribute was her unwavering faith in God and being a devout prayer warrior! If you asked Linda to pray about a situation, she was dedicated praying around the clock, even throughout the middle of the night, so often with no media for 24 hours; showing the diligence of her prayers! A true praying warrior whose gift will be missed by us all!

Linda leaves to mourn her passing and cherish her precious memories, her daughter, Libby Lievette Tarpley (Walter); her son, Jason Ray Tarpley (Lisa); her mother, Libby Lewis-Marshall and stepfather, Sherman Marshall; her sisters Jann Mitchell (Maurice) and Jazsmin Lewis-Kelley (Brien), her grand-daughters, Paula Jones-Bradford (LaVontae), Alijah Tarpley, Olivia Jones; her grandsons, Jahzel Jones, Paul "Taj" Jones, and Omar Senquiz (Yulissa Ramirez); her God-Daughter, India Rice (Stephen); her great-grandchildren, Zoe Wyatt, Jasai Bradford, and Solana Senquiz; her nephews, Michael Underwood, Kyle Underwood, Justin Mitchell, and Christian Kelley and a host of other loving relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Family and friends will be received beginning at 3:30 p.m. with the service starting at 4:00 p.m. at God's Kingdom 423 Washington Avenue, Lorain, Ohio. Bishop Charles Howard serves as the pastor and will be officiating Linda's Celebration of Life Service.

Linda "Dee", "Mommy" was a gift to all family and friends. We were so blessed to have shared her personality and memories for the past 75 years! She will be forever cherished in our hearts and greatly missed!