Obituary of Mary Priscilla Linder

Mary Linder was born Mary Priscilla Pottinger in Racine, Wisconsin on October 21, 1924 to Pastors Henry Earle and Bessie Mae Pottinger. She was the youngest of four children. Her early years were centered around home, church, and school, all of which changed frequently as the family moved frequently with the parents ministry. After spending two years at a Bible College in Eugene Oregon Mary joined her parents then living in Santa Cruz. Shortly thereafter the parents departed for the mission field in South Africa but Mary chose to stay on in Santa Cruz. Here, in 1948, while attending a church on Mission Street, she met the man who would become her husband, Harvey Linder. They loved each other dearly for over 60 years. Together they built Carriage Acres, a mobile home park in Soquel where they lived and worked for many years. Mary also worked as a seamstress, from home. When their children were older she went to work for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education both in Administration and as an Instructor of Advanced Tailoring. Regardless of her outside activities or employment, their lives together focused on family and always centered around the activities and involvement with their church, Twin Lakes Baptist. Mary sang with the adult choir, directed various youth choirs, and helped out wherever she felt her talents could best be used for the Lord. (Those of us in the 55-65 age group most fondly remember her years writing, teaching and performing a poetry group for 1st through 3rd graders.) Mary was outgoing and vivacious. She was a student of the Bible and a lover of God. But the brightest light of her earthly life was her husband Harvey and that hole was never quite filled after he died in March of 2011. Mary leaves behind siblings Robert Pottinger of Tacoma, Washington, Elizabeth Haynes of Nashville, Tennessee, son David [and Kris] Linder, daughter Nancy [and Bill] Shull, daughter Jan Nielsen; their children, spouses, and grandchildren as well as numerous cherished nephews, nieces and their children and grandchildren. As I Thessalonians 4:14 says, we "will not grieve as those who have no hope" and are confident she is with her Lord and her husband and we will someday be reunited with them as well. A Memorial Service in Mary's honor will take place November 9th, 11:00am, at Twin Lakes Church. In lieu of flowers the family respectfully asks that donations be made to either Twin Lakes Church Library or Twin Lakes Church Vision 2020 Fund c/o 2701 Cabrillo College Dr., Aptos, CA 95003