Linda Kay Stewart DeVore

Linda Kay Stewart DeVore passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on November 18, 2023, after a recent diagnosis of congestive heart failure. Kay was born on June 1, 1944, in Tampa, Florida. While growing up, she lived in Tampa, Fruitland Park, and Citra. When she was about 12, her family moved to Reddick, Florida, and she graduated from North Marion High School in 1962. Her family's move to Reddick proved to be providential since she met the love of her life there in seventh grade, Billy DeVore. They married on May 15, 1966, and eventually had four children: David (1968), Kristi and Leigh (1971), and Joy (1978).Kay attended Central Florida Junior College, but family was her heart. She dedicated her life to caring for her husband, raising their children, creating a comfortable home, volunteering at their kids' school, and being involved in her church, Living Faith Fellowship in Gainesville, Florida, which she attended since 1981. She cherished her roles as wife, mom, and Marmee (grandma)!Kay was also the ultimate friend, there with a word of encouragement, a Bible passage, or a listening ear. She purposed to make everyone feel special; she always befriended restaurant servers, leaving notes thanking them for their service.Kay enjoyed history, thrifting, traveling (the mountains in the fall were a favorite spot), coloring, history, tending her flowers and plants, and reading, mainly her Bible. Her most treasured moments were when she was with family and friends; she loved hearing everyone laughing and having a good time. In 2003 Kay was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia. The prognosis was two years, but she lived with it for 20. With all her health challenges, Kay faced them with courage, tenacity, and faith, which also sustained her when her daughter Kristi Elizabeth DeVore Shores died in 2011. She grieved but did not lose hope in the Lord, who was first in her life. Kay was also preceded in death by her parents, William Henry Clyde and Almedia Elizabeth Stewart; sister, Margaret Breece Thomas; and brothers, Melvin Stewart and Farrell Stewart. She is survived by her husband of 57.5 years, Billy DeVore; son David and daughter-in-law Tessie; daughter Leigh DeVore; daughter Joy and son-in-law Jason Noll; son- and daughter-in-law Ryan and Kyli Shores; grandchildren: Jonathan Thomas Shores, David Anderson Shores, David Alejandro Guell DeVore, Elizabeth Kay Shores, William Francisco Guell DeVore, Ethan William Noll, and Riley Ray Shores; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, and numerous lifelong friends. She would have wanted us to name everyone if we could. All of us are her legacy, and we honor her for a life well lived. We love you, Kay/Mama/Marmee.A Celebration of Life service will take place on Sat., Jan. 13, 2024, at 11 a.m., at Living Faith Fellowship, 5510 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606, followed by lunch. To RSVP for lunch or share memories, email [email protected]In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Bible Media Group to sponsor in Kay's honor a dubbing of the Bible film "Acts of the Apostles" into one of the major languages of the world. For more information, visit https://biblemediagroup.donorsupport.co/page/KayDeVore.