QUEENSBURY -- Linda Lea (Zumwalt) DeMatties, 72, of Queensbury, NY passed from her earthly home on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at Glens Falls Hospital, and was welcomed to her heavenly home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Linda was born July 19, 1944 in Portland, OR, the third and youngest daughter of Harold and Marie (Bissell) Zumwalt. She was raised on the Oregon coast, in North Bend and graduated North Bend High School in 1963. She met her husband, Irving E. DeMatties, of Warrensburg, NY while he was serving at the U.S. Navy's Oceanographic Naval Facility, Coos Head, Oregon. They were married January 2, 1963 in San Jose, CA and were very happily married more than fifty-four years.

Linda travelled extensively during her husband's 23-year Naval career and pursued a waitressing career at their many assignments. They were transferred 13 times during the next 19 years, excluding Temporary Duty Assignments. Linda was a loving and devoted wife to Irving, to the mother of their daughters, Wendy, Shelly and Jodi, and as grandmother and great-grandmother of her nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She was truly a loving and giving person, spending countless hours with them at home and activities such as scouting, gymnastics, school fundraisers, grandparent breakfasts and musical concerts. Linda was a member of Northway Christian Family Church in Queensbury, NY for thirteen years and served in several ministries including holy communion preparation and heading up Mercy Meals for those in need. Following her husband's retirement from the Navy in 1981, Linda made homes for their family in Keene, NH; Fairfax, VA; Corinth, NY and Queensbury, NY. She continued her 30-year waitressing career during these years with her last 15 years as Head Waitress at the Glens Falls Country Club, retiring in December of 2000.

Linda was very proud of her rich ancestral heritage, embodied in her parental Zumwalt and maternal Bissell families. Her Zumwalt ancestry is well-preserved in hardbound books and binders belonging to Linda. The Zumwalt families originated around 1640 in the Alsace-Lorraine region of Switzerland/Germany/France. Descendants of the Howland/Tilley families of the Mayflower voyage and of Plymouth Colony (1620) later merged, in marriage, with the Zumwalts who then migrated westward to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa and finally, to Oregon by wagon train in the mid 1800's. Linda and Irving enjoyed many more years of extensive travelling, classic car outings, bowling, card playing, reading and sporting events. Most of all, Linda cherished times spent with her family who were first and foremost in her life, second only to her love and devotion to her Lord, Jesus Christ. Linda radiated God's love with all those whom she came in contact with.

Linda was predeceased by her parents, Harold and Marie Zumwalt of North Bend, OR; her two sisters, Jacqueline (Zumwalt) Evans and Sylvia Zumwalt, as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins, and a niece, Lorie (Evans) Comstock, all of Oregon.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Irving DeMatties of Queensbury, NY; her daughter, Wendy Hermiller and husband, Glenn, of Hope Mills, NC; her daughter, Shelly Allen and husband, Gerald, of Queensbury, NY; her daughter, Jodi McHenry and husband, Eric, of Queensbury, NY; her nine grandchildren: Jennifer (DeMatties) Rowell-Nason of Queensbury, NY; Amber (Motley) Ray of Fayetteville, NC; Kyle Motley of Fayetteville, NC; Emily (Allen) Mosher of Queensbury, NY; Erin Allen of Queensbury, NY; Matthew Allen of Watertown, NY; Amanda (Allen) Leombruno of Queensbury, NY; Hope McHenry of Queensbury, NY and Autumn McHenry of Queensbury, NY; her ten great-grandchildren: Traci Rowell, Nathaniel Rowell, Blake Rowell, Declan Rowell-Nason, Liam Ray, Riley Ray, Julia Mosher, Andruw Vassey, Annslee Allen, and Jackson Richards.

The DeMatties family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Glens Falls Hospital for the care and compassion in attendance to Linda and her entire family.

Calling hours will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18, 2017 at Northway Christian Family Church, 37 Homer Avenue, Queensbury NY. (www.mendingandsending.org)

A Christian celebration of Linda's life will immediately follow, with Pastor John Tether officiating.

A hot and cold buffet reception for family and friends will be held at the B.P.O.E. Lodge No. 81, 32 Cronin Rd., Queensbury, NY following the service.

A Rite of Christian Committal and Burial will take place at the convenience of the family at Gerald B. H. Solomon-Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville, NY with family members and close friends attending.

Donations in loving memory of Linda, may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Northway Christian Family Church, 37 Homer Avenue, Queensbury, NY 12804.

Condolences and floral arrangements may be sent to Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette Avenue, Queensbury, NY or through www.bakerfuneralhome.com.