Dr. Linda Parker Hurst Coenen was born on November 14, 1958, in Mineola, NY. Throughout her life, Linda was loved as a daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, friend, veterinarian, dog mama, horsewoman, swimmer, musician, avid reader, and prayer warrior. In her Bible, she marked 1 John 1:9 as her “life verse”: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Next to it, she wrote, “Forgiven and set free!” More than anything, Linda wanted everyone she met to know and love Jesus as she did. On August 9, 2026, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, when her time on earth was done, Jesus welcomed her to her heavenly home, where she was finally set free from the suffering caused by an incurable lung disease she endured for many years.

Linda grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey, and Fresno, California, alongside her sisters Jeanne and Becky and brother Allen. Some of her fondest memories include fun summers with siblings and cousins at Gammie Tubby's house and on Grandpa Keagy's farm in Fort Morgan, Colorado, and at Grandpa and Grandma Hurst’s cabin on Gardner Lake in East Machias, Maine.

From the start, she showed impressive intelligence. At Ahwahnee Middle School, she earned straight As. In 1977, she graduated as Valedictorian from Hoover High School and was a Life Member of the California Scholarship Federation.

Linda’s lifelong love of animals drew her to Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she graduated in 1985 among the top ten in her class, earning her DVM degree. There, she forged lasting friendships with Kitty Cromwell, fellow veterinarian Bob Story, and Lance Coenen. On November 24, 1982, she and Lance married. After leaving Stillwater, OK, they lived in California and Klamath Falls, Oregon, then settled in Grants Pass, Oregon, where she enjoyed rafting down the Rogue, hiking (she hiked Mt. McLoughlin with her mom!), and other activities in God’s beautiful outdoors.

In 2025, she moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where her sister Jeanne and brother-in-law Robert cared for her. Though she missed her home, she spent valuable time with family and created lasting memories. Almost every morning found in her favorite spot on the porch swing, reading and reflecting on God's Word and praying. When she required more than they could provide, Pastor Kurt Neely and the amazing staff at Wellspring Meadows Assisted Living met her needs and ministered to her with kindness and love.

Linda was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the American Veterinary Medicine Association, and VMAs in Oklahoma and Oregon. She worked at various clinics, including the Vet Lab Animal Resource Department at OSU, Basin Animal Hospital in Klamath Falls, Pacific Vet Clinic in Williams, Grants Pass Vet Clinic, and her Great-Uncle Hiland & Richard Keagy’s Beverly Hills Vet Clinic, where she treated the pets of such stars as Jimmy Stewart and Smokey Robinson. She also did relief work in several other vet clinics.

Eventually, Dr. Coenen had her own fully operational mobile practice—the first veterinary clinic in a van in the Grants Pass area—bringing care (including X-rays and surgeries) directly to animals in more remote areas. Her clients spoke highly of her, and she fulfilled the Veterinarian's Oath—to protect animal health and welfare, relieve animal suffering, and advance her medical knowledge, while practicing her profession—with dignity, medical ethics, integrity, and excellence.

Linda's gifts extended far beyond medicine. She was an accomplished pianist and singer. In high school and beyond, she medaled in state and local swimming championships, with the butterfly among her best strokes. For years, she professionally trained and showed champion horses in OK and CA and went to Congress, the second-highest-rated horse show one could participate in behind the World Show. Until Linda’s health declined, her mare Tiffany was her beloved companion.

Notably, Linda spent years channeling her expertise into dog obedience, agility, rally, and herding, ultimately achieving the sport's highest honors. Buddy was her “heart dog,” meaning she put everything she had into him. Her other cherished canine kids were Beavis, Lucy (her agility champ), Bodie, and Scully. Whether the arena held horses or dogs, Linda excelled through patience, skill, and an intuitive bond with animals.

Most of all, people remember Linda for how she valued relationships and maintained them across decades and miles. Almost everywhere she went, she asked anyone she met, “How can I pray for you?” She kept notebooks, journals, and a Prayer Jar filled with requests for nearly everyone she knew—a true prayer warrior to the end.

An active member of River Valley Church for many years, she loved singing on the praise team, in choir festivals and musical dramas, and on mission trips to Uganda, Africa. On Christmas, her friends relished her homemade cinnamon rolls and apple pies. Almost without fail, she enjoyed annual visits with her long-distance relatives. And no visit was complete without rafting, hiking, Scrabble, and a lively Yahtzee tournament!

To motivate her canine kids, one would often hear Linda exclaim, “Woo hoo!” It’s not hard to imagine Jesus cheering her on, saying, “Woo Hoo!” as she made her final “front cross” from Earth to Heaven with Him as her “Handler.” Linda knew He was calling her, patiently waiting, and finally, she couldn’t resist any longer. If she didn’t know and love Jesus, this would be one of the most difficult chapters in her life. Since she did, those who also know and love Jesus can say, “See you soon—not yet—but soon."

Linda’s longing to be reunited with her two children in their heavenly home is finally fulfilled. She is also preceded in her homecoming by mother Pat Hurst and father Woody Hurst. She leaves behind husband Lance; her canine kids Bodie and Lucy (and adopted mom Diane); sister Jeanne and brother-in-law Robert; sister Becky; brother Allen and his family; nephews Brandon and Phil and their families; Uncle Doug Brown; cousins Craig, Morgan, Teresa, Roy, Marge, Ginny, Larry, Bill, Ken, Steve, Rick, and Barry; treasured friends; and countless others whose lives were impacted by her life and legacy of prayers offered, animals healed, and relationships tended. As cousin Teresa wrote, “She lived life on this earth for the glory of God.” As lifelong friend Kitty expressed, “She was my rock.”

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7) You finished well, Linda. You will be loved and missed more than you know.