Linda Gene Haacke Murdock

Linda Gene Haacke Murdock passed away gracefully in her sleep on Saturday, February 12^th, 2022 after spending several weeks in the hospital due to complications from diabetes and infection. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 30^th, 1944 to Rulon B. and Hildegard (Neitsch) Haacke. She was 77 years old.

Linda grew up in Bountiful, Utah as the eldest of 3 siblings. She graduated from Bountiful High School in 1963. At the age of 18, she served an LDS mission in Montevideo, Uruguay after which she then joined her parents and siblings in southern Brazil until the completion of their family mission. Mom often amused us with stories of her mission and I know she remembers that time as one of the happiest experiences of her life.

Upon her return home to Utah, Linda attended Brigham Young University and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Education a full 2 years ahead of schedule. She devoted her life to teaching and worked as an elementary school teacher in Davis County for 37 years. Mom loved being a teacher! She was always looking for new ways to improve her teaching skills and help children with different learning styles. After she retired, Linda had a yearly tradition of sitting on her front porch on the first day of school and waving to the neighborhood kids as they passed by on their way to school.

In 1975, she married Clark D. Murdock and became the step-mother of Curtis, John, and Kara Murdock. Clark and Linda lived for a short time in Salt Lake City and eventually made their permanent home in Centerville, Utah. They went on to raise eight more children together: Tracy Anderson; Chris H. Murdock (Michelle); Ryan C. Murdock (Tiffney); Julia Reese (Shane); David Rulon Murdock; Lori Jo Murdock; Jordon Murdock; and Alyx Murdock. Mom and dad were married for 42 years.

Linda had a cheery, spontaneous personality and loved to sing! She would often burst into song for no apparent reason when she was excited or happy. She embarrassed her family at every 4^th of July parade with her random, LOUD cheering and one-of-a-kind dance moves. She spoke Portuguese and played the accordion in a local senior citizen band. She was a proud member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and encouraged her daughters to be proud of their heritage.

Our mother was an exceptionally compassionate, generous, and forgiving woman. She loved all living things, great and small. Growing up, every sunny corner and windowsill in our home was filled with plants! we still remember how hard she cried when we had to cut down our old cherry tree in the backyard. She loved Springtime and all the blooming blossoms it brings. She had a tender heart for animals and made donations to just about every animal fund she came in contact with. She enjoyed camping, reading, writing encouraging notes to her kids that were always covered in stickers, and most of all, playing with her grandchildren. She especially loved children and was a constant champion for their well-being. She often kept track of her “at risk” students for several years after they were in her class and made sure they had good shoes, warm coats, school supplies, or groceries for their family.

Linda’s life was one of service. Her endurance and determination for helping others cannot be measured. Mom sacrificed so much of her time, energy, money, and sometime even her own health to help those around her. She instantly forgave any/all of a person’s mistakes and would move mountains to help them get out of the bad situation they found themselves in. Her compassion for others was truly Christ-like. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and her faith in the Gospel carried her through the many trials of her life.

Linda is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her in-laws Joseph Grant & Sara Ora Murdock. She is survived by all of her children, 22 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, her sister, Maureen Buchanan, her brother Douglas Haacke, her in-laws: Jenny Murdock, Gayle Baxter, and Kent & Barbara Murdock…and 3 cats!

She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 18^th at 2:00pm at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main St., Bountiful, UT, where a viewing will be held on Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00pm and Friday from 12:30-1:30pm prior to services. Interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live at the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page. Streaming will begin 10-15 minutes prior to the 2:00pm services.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate assistance with Linda’s funeral expenses. Donations may be made to the Linda Murdock Memorial Fund at America First Credit Union, Account #9122797. For more information, call 1-800-999-3961 or visit: https://www.americafirst.com/utilities/search-results.html?q=donate%20money%20to%20an%20account&answerid=5a3c1937919cd448fe1423ea#none.