Linda Prokop

Linda Kay (Dawson) Prokop, 64, of Bellaire, formerly of Central Lake, died Saturday night, Dec. 8, 2012, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

Linda Kay Dawson was born July 29, 1948, in Charlevoix, the daughter of Maurice and Beatrice (McGuire) Dawson. She was raised in Central Lake with six brothers. She graduated from Central Lake High School in 1966, and attended Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City.

On Oct. 24, 1970, she married the love of her life, Lawrence Clement "Larry" Prokop, at United Methodist Church in Central Lake. On June 3, 1971, she gave birth to her only child and light of her life, her son, Peter Girard Prokop.

She spent more than four years working at Texas Instruments, and four years at Chain O' Lakes Construction. Linda operated an in-home day care for neighborhood children for many years. She loved working with children and providing dozens of playmates for Peter. She was considered a second mother of many now-grown children of the community.

After residing in Grand Junction, Colo., and Central Lake, the family settled in Bellaire, where Linda worked at Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility for 22 years.

Linda was a kind-hearted, hard-working and devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend. She had a way with people, and everyone she encountered said she was the sweetest woman they had ever met. Linda saw the good in everyone, and always had an open heart and house.

Linda had a large family for whom she served as mother and sister, beloved aunt and baby-sitter. She loved her family and relatives very much and found much enjoyment in the planning the Dawson/McGuire family reunions and keeping track of the many generations.

Most of all, Linda was devoted to her husband, Larry, and son, Pete. She loved them fiercely and whole-heartedly. She remembered every detail of Peter's childhood and would regale anyone who would listen with tales of Pete's adventures. And although she hated the series of English Setters that resided with them at 410 Park Street over the years, she loved Larry so much that she would abide their presence. Most of the time.

She is survived by her husband, Larry Prokop; son, Peter (Alison) Prokop; six brothers, Eugene (Jo Anne) Dawson, Arvin (Alice) Dawson, Gary (Lois) Dawson, Kevin (Vickie) Dawson, R. David (Lynda) Dawson, and Craig (Leslie) Dawson; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation will take place Friday, May 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at St. Luke The Evangelist Catholic Church in Bellaire, with burial to follow in Lakeview Cemetery, Bellaire. A luncheon will take place at the church following burial. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105.

Arrangements are being made by Mortensen Funeral Home, Central Lake.