Linda Kay Beale

Linda K. Beale, 83, of Streetsboro, passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born July 17, 1942 in Conneaut, Ohio to Paul C. and Marybell (Mitcheson) Deevers.

In her early years, Linda lived in Bedford, Ohio with her parents and three siblings, Chris (Karen), Julie (Matthew) Wilbur and Beth Craig. Linda went to Bedford High School, where she met her “honey” and love of her life, Rex Beale. They graduated from BHS and attended Ohio University before getting married in 1961. They quickly began their family, and had four children in their first decade together. Linda became fascinated with childbirth and women’s health, and wanted to learn to assist women during childbirth and to help improve the experience for women, who at that point were often sedated for childbirth. With the support of her OB/GYN, Nancy Johnson, MD, she learned about the Lamaze method being used in France. (In 1951, French obstetrician Fernand Lamaze brought the technique of using breathwork during birthing to Paris. He emphasized the importance of a woman's active participation in birth rather than being passive or heavily sedated, establishing the foundation for the "Lamaze Method" as it became known in the West.) Linda, one of the original Lamaze trainers in the United States in the late 1960s, taught Lamaze classes at Bedford Hospital for many years, and was invited to assist in over a hundred births, helping local women learn to use their own breath for pain management. She was considered a Lamaze pioneer and champion in Ohio, and was very proud of this legacy. Linda later worked as an assistant and office manager for Dr. Luczak’s OB/GYN practice in NE Ohio. During this time Linda was also a board member at Hattlie Larlham for voluntary Mennonite service.

In 1997, Linda suffered a stroke, which sadly ended her career outside of the home. She worked hard to heal from this health setback, but struggled with expressive aphasia as a result. For a well-read woman whose love of words was part of her identity, this was a huge loss, and she was forced to find new ways to communicate. She was still an avid reader, however, and turned her focus more to her children and grandchildren. Linda loved books and was often reading two or more books at once. She collected, purchased, recommended and loaned books to many family members and friends. She had several book clubs she hosted in her home for decades, and she loved learning new things through fiction. She enjoyed sharing ideas and debating issues raised or inspired by her reading. She was masterful at finding the next perfect read for all of her people, and always had fabulous taste. She also loved the theater, beginning in high school productions and later making an annual trek to New York City with her daughter Bobbi and their friends. She saw dozens of plays on and off Broadway and held season tickets in Ohio for Playhouse Square and Dobama Theatre for many years. She loved to attend school plays or concerts for her grandchildren, and was always their biggest cheerleader and fan. She and her daughter Bobbi also produced small productions at their church, the Aurora Mennonite church.

Linda was also an expert gift-giver! She always found the perfect present that would be exciting and unique, including the best books of course. She was very thoughtful and would collect stories, articles, op-eds, and crossword puzzles from the papers she read every day, cutting them out neatly and sharing them with her kids and grandkids.

The love story of Linda and Rex is “epic,” as her grandchildren would say. Spanning 65 years, from high school through retirement, Rex and Linda had a fierce and abiding love for one another. They argued and made up many times each day, and their passion was ever-present and palpable. They had seven children over the course of 20 years, and each of those kids made her proud, and each went on to have children of their own. The Beale family was woven with the love of Rex and Linda.

Linda’s family started with her high school sweetheart and lifelong partner, Rex Allen Beale and includes their 7 children, 19 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren:

~Bobbi (& Dani) Beale, and their kids, Christopher Mason Baker, Jesse Beale Devine and Blaze Rex Beale,

~Sean (& Cynthia) Beale, and their kids Garrison Paul and Shelby Faith Beale, and Shelby’s son DJ (Danny Jacob)

~Todd (& Jessica) Beale, and their kids Jordan Tanner and Riley (Lauren) Allen Beale, and Riley & Lauren’s daughters Ivy Layne and Isla Rae

~Collin (& Robin) Beale, and their kids Olivia Renee (Michael) and Mason (Haley) Marc Beale, and Mason & Haley’s son Elliot Matthias and a new sweet babe arriving this fall,

~Ryan (& Jennifer) Beale, and their kids Van Timothy, Ozzy Lane, Teddy Ray, and Fox Thomas Beale

~Sara (& Adam) Brown, and their kids Rory William, Samuel Milo, and Lucy Jane Brown

~Rachel Freeman, and her twins: Sawyer Belle & Crosby Lee Freeman

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Christopher Deevers, and great-grandson Elliot Matthias Beale.

Calling hours will be from 10 AM until time of funeral service at 12 PM Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Shorts Spicer Crislip Funeral Home Streetsboro Chapel with Reverend Annette Dimond officiating. In lieu of flowers Linda would love if everyone would support their local library. Condolences and memories of Linda may be shared at www.sscfuneralhomes.com.