Linda Joy Martin

27 Jul 1945 - 14 Sep 1999

Linda was born on 27 July 1945 in Madisonville, Texas. Nothing much is known about her father, Riley Lee Martin, but his name does appear on her birth cirtificate. In fact, Linda did not even know her father's full name until sometime after the birth of her first born child, who ironically bears his name. She was raised by her mother, Arnette Walker.

Arnette married two more times (her first husband died very early in the marriage) after having Linda. Linda's half-brother, Leslie Brinkley, was born on 5 Nov 1947 in Madison County, Texas. He was the son of Paul Edward Brinkley

In 1964, she met and fell in love with Vernon Ballard. They were married at her grandmother's house a week before Christmas 1964. Immediately, he took her to Portland, Oregon to start a new life.