Mary Ellen Linkul, 97, of Fenton died June 19, 2019, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Mrs. Linkul worked as a medical assistant for Dr. Robert Eirick; as the owner of a dress resale shop; as a consultant for House of Decoration and Accessories (HODA); and as a personal assistant to Olive Dorflinger. She was a member of the Antonia Flower Garden, St. John’s Ladies Sodality, Christian Family Movement, Peregrin Society and St. Paul’s Catholic Church, and volunteered with both the March of Dimes and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She enjoyed horseback riding, flower arranging, reading and crafting, and was known for wearing the more than 80 colorful hats in her collection. Born Nov. 19, 1921, in Pocahontas, Ark., she was the daughter of the late Homer Clifford and Bernadine Jayne (Goheen) Stewart. She was preceded in death by her husband: John Linkul Sr.
She is survived by seven children: Patricia Ann (Kenneth) Leicht of Fenton, John James (Donna Lee Counts) Linkul Jr. of Eminence, Richard William (Christina) Linkul of Spring Hill, Fla., Elizabeth (Sidney) Schnable of Fredericktown, Susan Marie Linkul of St. Louis, Michael Joseph (Deborah Giron) Linkul of Mexico, Mo., and Joan (Jeffrey) Abney of Park Hills; 12 grandchildren: Scott (Jeanne) Leicht of St. Louis, Christopher John Linkul, Christopher Robert (Buffy) Linkul of Carson City, Nev., Amanda (Rene) Ree of Vista, Calif., Robert (Keagan) Linkul of Shingle Springs, Calif., Bryan (Amanda) Schnable of Fredericktown, Kevin Schnable of Antonia, Kimberly (Kevin) Wilde of High Ridge, Sean Murphy of Arnold, Matthew Murphy of St. Louis, Ryan Murphy of Lemay and Brandon Murphy of De Soto; and 16 great-grandchildren: Janelle and Ethan Leicht; Brandon, Catherine, C.J., Peyton and Bristol Linkul; Andrew, Trevor, Hunter, Isaac, Abigail and Claire Schnable; Kaleb and Kaden Wilde; and Harper Murphy.
She also was preceded in death by two stepbrothers: Francis and Travis Stewart; a grandson: Richard Linkul Jr.; and a daughter-in-law: Virginia “Ginny” Linkul.
Visitation is scheduled from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, June 23, at Jay B. Smith Funeral Home, 777 Oakwood Drive, in Fenton. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, June 24, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 15 Forest Knoll Drive., in Fenton, followed by procession and burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Ellisville. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.