Linda Jean Gross

Surrounded by her devoted family and friends until the end, Linda Jean Gross (neé Graves) of Fruit Heights, Utah passed away on June 24, 2025 after a prolonged illness.

Linda was born December 26, 1942 in Dermott, Arkansas to parents James and Jean Graves. She was the oldest sister to siblings Becky and Gayle and grew up in a traditional Southern small town close to family, friends and neighbors, which became a hallmark, wherever she called home. She would often recall the days of ladies playing bridge and telephone party lines. A place where everyone knew her. She adored her grandparents and was especially close to her grandfather, Leonard Evans, who was an early employee and stockholder in the future company, AON. This relationship helped foster Linda’s lifelong acumen in financial investments and watching the stock market became a daily practice.

After graduation from Dermott High School, Linda attended the University of Arkansas. She was thrilled to leave the small town behind and arrived on campus excited to begin a new chapter and with a wardrobe, that was the envy of her sorority (Zeta Tau Alpha) sisters, of which she always happily shared. As Linda was statuesque and slim, she was always the best dressed in the room.

After college she married and had two sons, Brian and Todd, who throughout her life were her pride and joy. In 1971, she moved to Los Angeles, CA and embarked on a career in the health care management industry, which spanned more than thirty-five years.

While living in Los Angeles, as an ambitious, hardworking single mom, she met the love of her life, John Gross. They began dating and in 1974, they married and her family expanded to include John’s two daughters, Pam and Audrey.

In 1976 the family moved to Lafayette, CA and Linda devoted her time to raising her sons and immersing herself in the community. Linda continued her career as the Director of Human Resources at St. Mary’s Medical Center, where she interviewed and hired her future best friend, Julie Petrini. That friendship saved Linda’s life in 1989, when the Loma Prieta earthquake hit San Francisco and Julie’s work meeting prevented them from commuting home on the Bay Bridge that day, which was catastrophically destroyed during the quake. Their friendship became even closer and their families enjoyed many happy times together.

Over the next several years Linda and John’s careers enabled them to live abroad in England and later Phoenix, Arizona. With their children grown and living in Salt Lake City, Chicago and California, they enjoyed traveling to visit grandchildren.

When she retired from a successful health care management career, Linda could fully enjoy one of her greatest passions, mastering Duplicate Bridge. At a young age she developed a love of the game from her mother, and with her sister, Becky, as her favorite partner, she traveled to tournaments and attained the status of Life Master. For Linda, playing cards was a challenging, creative and social pursuit.

Like her mother, Linda passed the love of cards onto her boys, Brian and Todd. After John’s death in 2017, Linda decided to leave her beloved town of Lafayette, California and move to the Salt Lake City area in the summer of 2019 to be closer to her oldest son, Brian and his extended family.

Almost immediately, a nightly tradition of playing card games was established and all who visited and played had scores recorded in multiple composition notebooks.

Once again Linda cultivated closeness with family, friends and neighbors. Her new community welcomed her and were delighted by her wit, generosity and Southern charm.

Linda loved living right down the street from Brian and his family and her days were filled with travel to Mexico, time with grandchildren, babysitting great grandchildren, following her favorite football teams and playing bridge. Her home, always tastefully decorated, was a haven for family and friends, filled with good food, fun card games and witty rapport.

Linda was predeceased by her parents James and Jean Graves, husband John Gross and her beloved granddaughter Ashley Golden, with whom she is now reunited and sharing a dance together.

She is survived by children Brian (Crystal) Golden, Todd (Anne) Golden, Pam (Tom) Henzie and Audrey (Steve) Blue, grandchildren Brandon (Nicole) Henzie, Amanda (Kevin) Miller, Courtney (Andy) Golden, Nick Golden, Evan Golden, Olivia (Hunter) Coleman, Zoe Golden, Gregory Golden, Evanthia Golden, great grandchildren Avery, Millie, Georgia, Mia, Luke, Owen and Jayce and her sisters Becky Bien and Gayle Graves as well as many dear friends.

Arrangements entrusted to Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 N. Main St., Kaysville, Utah.