On August 15, 2013 Linda Susan Hales passed from her life on earth with her spouse, two sons and their wives at her bedside. Born to Louis and Florence Mlakar in Anchorage AK she came as a Valentine's gift on February 14, 1952. Growing up in the Mlakar family she spent many happy times building and playing at the family cabin on Big Lake. In college she met her spouse, Stanley Hales, marrying in 1973. They lived in Cleveland OH for six years where she graduated from John Carroll University in 1975, taught elementary and preschool for two years, and gave birth to their first son Benjamin in 1977. She and her family moved back to Anchorage in 1979 and their second son Nicholas arrived later that year. In 1982 the Hales family moved to Pasco WA where she and Stanley resided until her death. She was preceded in death by her mother, Florence, and her older sister, Kathy Garcia (Jerry), who died at age 41 from the same type of cancer that took Linda's life. She is survived by her spouse, her two sons and their beautiful wives Julie (Ben) and Aigezza (Nicholas), her father Louis, her brother Steven Mlakar (Audrey) and his family, her sister Mary Lou Mlakar Dobler (Rob), her sister Rose Mlakar as well as her brother-in-law Jerry Garcia and his family. Linda had a love for reading and the written word. She began a lifelong joy of reading books as a child. She won the school spelling bee in junior high. She proudly helped her three younger siblings learn to read before they started school. She had a love for animals. She always kept dogs in our home since 1975 with Riley the border collie still surviving at the time of her death. Her dog walks over many years covered literally thousands of miles. Her charitable giving for animal care organizations was important for her. Her unselfish love for her family and friends quietly touched so many people. She gave from the heart. Linda had many talents including gardening, home decorating, refinishing old furniture, preparing holiday feasts for family and friends, and making dolls and teddy bears. Her creative artistic skill making beautiful teddy bears was truly world class. Linda requested no funeral. In lieu of flowers she requested donations to Preventing Homeless Pets (www.preventhomelesspets.org via Paypal, by calling (509) 375-4024, or by mailing them to PHP, P.O. Box 3011, Richland, Wash. 99354) or to the pet care organization of your choice. For online condolences, visit www.HillcrestBruceLee@msn.com.