Linnie W. McCracken, age 64, died August 30, 2014 at his home in Orlando, Florida surrounded by family. Linnie loved his family. He was married to his sweetheart, Helen, for 42 years. They have a daughter, Jessica McCracken Weber, and two grandchildren, Elizabeth Weber and Jason Weber. Linnie is survived by his wife, daughter, grandchildren, sister, Illa Hodges, Jacksonville, FL and brother, David McCracken, North Carolina and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, aunt, cousins, in-laws and extended family.
Linnie was born to Leonard and Leonda McCracken 1950 in Chillicothe, Missouri. He recently returned to Chillicothe to visit family. Linnie took one last adventure with family on a trip covering 18 states. The trip include a visit to the Hoover Dam, which Linnie's father had worked on during his youth, and a trip to the Grand Canyon. Linnie said there were no words to describe what the eye could see and no picture to capture the breadth and depth of the world's natural wonder. It was something you had to experience in person.
Linnie served in the United States Army and fought in Vietnam. Linnie believed in the founding principles of U.S.A., freedom. He believed that freedom was a right for all people regardless of the country of origin, and he was willing to fight for that right for all. He said, "Whether you believe in what the other guy is saying or not, he has the right to say it, even if it may make you feel like you want to knock his teeth out."
Linnie was a heavy machine operator and worked on construction sites around the Orlando area over the past 30 years. Linnie enjoyed taking walks through the swamps of Florida and discovering the wildlife hidden beneath the canopy. He taught his daughter and grandchildren to respect and enjoy the nature around them. He enjoyed visiting forts and teaching his daughter, grandchildren, nieces and nephews the history of the fort, era, battle and tools of the time.
Linnie enjoyed living and had an adventurous spirit. He rode motorcycles and drove muscle cars in his younger years and hiked canyons, climbed mountains and stood on ledges just two months before moving on to the last untold adventure.
Linnie was the remaining patriarch of the family. He will be missed more than words can express.