Linda Gale Greer

Linda Gale McNeal Greer, 77, of Johnson City, Tennessee, passed away peacefully Friday, October 9, 2026, at NHC Healthcare in Johnson City.

Linda was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Jack and Mary McNeal. She lived in Maryville, where she graduated from Maryville High School, and went on to earn a degree in social work from East Tennessee State University before making her home in Johnson City.

For 35 years, Linda dedicated her career to serving Tennessee’s youth. She served as Regional Administrator over the juvenile justice division of the Department of Corrections, and later as Regional Administrator for the Northeast Region of the Department of Youth Development. She completed her career with the Department of Children’s Services after those agencies were brought together. Throughout her tenure, she was known for her genuine compassion for the children and families she served. While rigorous and precise in her professional duties, she was a trusted mentor who provided guidance, wisdom, and steadfast support to her staff. Beyond her dedication to the work, her colleagues will remember her for her infectious sense of humor and love of workplace pranks.

She was a member of Southside Baptist Church and later Southwestern Baptist Church in Johnson City, where she sang in the choir and frequently performed solos. Music was a lifelong passion for her, and Linda often expressed that singing was her special gift from God and her truest form of praise. Her mother, Mary, liked to say that Linda came into this world ready to sing, humming tunes before she could even talk.

Linda was fiercely passionate, remarkably determined, and never afraid to speak her mind or stand her ground. That same dedication poured into her hobbies, whether she was creating ceramics, working on cross stitch projects, or preparing delicious food. She loved a good movie or play and could never resist the latest gadget, whether it was new technology or a handy tool for the kitchen. She had a boundless love for animals, from neighborhood strays and big cats in rescues to the many beloved pets she cherished throughout her life. Linda loved her family and friends deeply, in her own uncompromising way.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Mary McNeal; her husband, James Greer; and her brothers, Robert Joseph McNeal, and Jackson Everett McNeal.

She is survived by her daughter, Laura Lifford, and her husband, Wesley, and their children, Lachlan and Liana; her daughter, Leslie Osborne, and her husband, Charles, and their children, Caleb, Colin, and Jacob; and her son, Darrell Greer, and his wife, Rebekah, and their children, Harlan, Silas, and Arthur. She also leaves behind many cherished nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at NHC Healthcare for their exceptional care and compassion over the past two years. Special thanks are also extended to Kathleen McDavid for the care and companionship that helped Linda maintain her independence.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, November 13, 2026, at Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City, with Pastor William “Willie” Lunsford officiating. Linda will be laid to rest beside her husband, James, a U.S. Army veteran.

 A celebration of life with refreshments will follow from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Jeremiah Cafe, 603 W. Walnut St., Johnson City.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Isaiah 117 House, P.O. Box 842, Elizabethton, TN 37644 (please write "Washington County TN" and "In memory of Linda Greer" in the memo line), or online at isaiah117house.com/donate. Friends may also honor Linda by adopting a kitten in need of a home.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family via www.morrisbaker.com.

Morris-Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2001 E. Oakland Ave., Johnson City, is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Linda Gale Greer. (423) 282-1521.