Tuesday April 1st the strongest woman I know left this cruel world. Our Mother, Linda Hinson, of Alexander, passed away today at the far too early age of 64.

Some of you know but many of you aren't aware of the cancer Mom was battling. She didn't want the sympathy. She didn't want to be a "burden."

For the last 2+ years she had battled esophageal cancer. What began as something we hoped was just a blockage quickly developed into a rapidly accelerating cancer. She went through a year of chemo and radiation. She rang the bell. We thought she was in the clear. But the cancer had other plans.

A few months ago when it was determined chemo wasn't an option again and radiation likely wouldn't help she went in for surgery to remove the mass. During the surgery the surgeon found that the mass had wrapped around her aorta and he would be unable to remove it. Her prognosis was grim.

The last few months were especially hard on her. She hadn't eaten in damn near 3 years! But she fought. She fought every single day. Begging to let us let her grand babies, Zyler and Diesel, come hang out with her. Those grandkids saved her life! Actually saved her life. The changes she made after Zyler was born to ensure she would be in their lives was incredible. But that was Mom. Hard headed and determined. Never went a day without working hard. When the cancer made her stop working she was so pissed.

Today all that pain was taken from her. She's in a better place and no longer hurting. She went rather peacefully but unexpectedly. I'm so incredibly thankful for my little brother Chad Hinson. He was there to check on her today as he and my amazing sister in law Beth Hinson did almost every day. While Chad had to witness his mother passing in front of him I can't help but remember that the final thing she saw as she left this world was Chad's face. Her baby. Without you there Chad she would have left us lonely. You prevented that. Thank you! I love you bro!

It hurts though. I've never lost anyone close to me. Mom had her demons. But that woman never gave up. She raised Chad and I as a single mother. She worked day and night, literally! Chad and I used to walk to the Exxon at I30 and Reynolds while she worked her night shift there just to say goodnight because somehow she was going to work all night and still go to another full time job the next morning. But we never went without. She always found a way.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents, James Coyl & Annie Smith Coyl and a brother, Todd Coyl.

She is survived by two sons, Steve Hinson (Cristin) and Chad Hinson (Beth); brother, Jimmy Coyl; two sisters, Brenda Hatch and Tammy Melulis; and grandsons, Zyler and Diesel Hinson.

Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.

We are gonna miss you Mom! We love you so much. I hope they got a big fat juicy steak waiting for you!

Memorial services will be held at a later date.