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Linda A. McNiel, 72, cherished wife of 51 years to Wayne H. McNiel, left this world peacefully to meet Jesus face-to-face on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 7, surrounded by her family. She was the daughter of the late Clarence and Mary Anderson of Harrison County. 

In addition to her husband, she is survived by five children; Whitney McNiel, Cincinnati, OH, Jason (Kerri) McNiel, Winchester, Ashley (Michael) Lewis, Winchester, Leslie (Alvin) Pasley, Richmond and Joshua McNiel, Winchester, as well as five grandchildren, Jacob McNiel, Matthew and Hailey Pasley, Nathan and Gabriella Lewis. 

Andy, as she was known to her friends, graduated from Harrison Co. High School and received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Kentucky. She also did graduate work at Eastern KY University. Andy’s heart belonged to the Lord, then to her family, then to her church family at Fellowship of Believers, where she has been a member for almost fifty years. She taught Sunday School there for close to forty years. 

She spent her life investing in others. Her faith inspired her to a lifetime as an educator. She taught elementary school in Clark Co. School System for two years and was one of two teachers in Clark Co. named Outstanding Elementary Teachers in America, her second year. She left teaching to start a family but returned as a volunteer and interim directress at Children’s House Inc. Montessori School while her children were students there. She home-schooled all five of her children, and four of them went on to complete baccalaureate or post-graduate degrees. 

As her children grew, she became involved in 4-H, where she was a club and project leader. In addition, she served as president of the local 4-H Council, president of the Bluegrass Area 4-H Council, and secretary of the Bluegrass Area Extension Council. She received along with her family, the Clark Co. Extension Leadership Award. She and her husband were chosen for the Clark Co. 4-H Hall of Fame. During this time, she continued to share her talent as an educator with expectant parents as an employee, then owner of Winchester Prepared Childbirth Association, teaching childbirth techniques and sharing her wealth of experience as a parent. As her children grew, she and her husband fostered and adopted a special young man who has blessed their lives. As a result of that, she became more involved in foster care, serving as a member of the KY Foster and Adoptive Parent Training Support Network for the Southern Bluegrass Region, providing training and crisis support for foster parents in Ky. 

Visitation will be held Wednesday, Aug 11, from 4-7 pm at Rolan G. Taylor Funeral Home , 289 S. Main St., Winchester. Services will be at 11:00 am, Thursday, Aug 12, at Fellowship of Believers, 3421 Combs Ferry Rd. Memoriams may be made to Rapha Ministries or New Beginnings. Active palllbearers will be: Mike Lewis, Alvin and Matthew Pasley, Jacob McNiel, John Bryant, Jeff Kurtz, Craig Stotts, and Ray Johnson. Honorary pallbearers are members of Fellowship of Believers and staff and volunteers of Rapha Ministries. Rolan G. Taylor Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.