Lavota Linear, blessed this earth on December 23, 1941, and quietly went on to be with our Beloved Lord and Savior on the peaceful morning of March 10, 2025 at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA.

Lavota was born in Mount Union, PA to the late Willie Mae Merrell and Henry Marshall. She was preceded in death by her two sisters, Priscilla White and Rose Mary Carter, both of Pittsburgh and her beloved husband of 43 years, Austin Linear.

At the age of four, Lavota moved with her mother to Fairmont, West Virginia, where they lived with her Uncle Charlie Wilson. She returned to Pittsburgh in the seventh grade but soon returned back to Fairmont, where she attended Dunbar School and graduated from Fairmont Senior High School.

Lavota fell in love with the love of her life, Austin Linear, and the two married on February 23, 1962. They made their home in Fairmont, West Virginia, where they raised three wonderful children: Charles, MelvaJean, and Priscilla.

Known for her hard work, Lavota dedicated 33 years of service to Westinghouse before retiring. After retirement, she joined Fairmont General Hospital as a Dietary Aide, continuing to serve her community.

A devoted Christian, Lavota placed the Lord at the center of all she did. She was an active member of Friendship Baptist Church of Everettsville for many years, where she served as an usher. Later, she became a dedicated member of Morning Star Baptist Church, where she served as the Usher Board Treasurer and Head of the Church Kitchen Committee until relocating to Pennsylvania to live with her daughter.

Lavota cherished her family above all else, from the eldest member to the youngest baby. She expressed her love through cooking for her family and friends. Her specialty was potato salad, and her homemade pound cakes were a beloved treat-so popular that many eagerly requested them. Yet, to this day, Lavota never shared her secret recipe with anyone. She also had a deep love for music, dancing, and roller-skating. It was common to find her at the skating rink in her youth, or whenever there was music, she'd dance with enthusiasm, sharing laughter and joy as she mastered the steps. The electric slide dance was her favorite dance to do. Lavota will be fondly remembered for her big heart and the brightest, most beautiful smile you could imagine, could light up an entire room. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh, and whenever you were around her, you were guaranteed a good laugh. One thing people will always remember about Lavota is her love for helping others. Most of all, she was a loving mother and truly a "Great Grandmother" she loved us all. Lavota nurtured her family through the generations, she has left a legacy for each family member to remember. As Proverbs 19:17 says, "Whoever is kind to others lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done."

She leaves behind cherished memories with her brother, Edward Leroy Lee of Pennsylvania; sister Janie Carter-Williams (Robert Williams) of Pennsylvania; her son, Charles Linear (Gabrielle) of Ohio; and her daughters, MelvaJean Turner of Pennsylvania and Priscilla Campbell (Devron) of Tennessee. She is also survived by six wonderful grandchildren: Calvin Turner of PA, Lawren Linear of OH, Kyra Hazley of FL, Jessica Linear of OH, Antionette Smith and Aishia Campbell of TN, and Alexis Whittaker of OH. Additionally, she leaves behind four great-grandchildren, Austin Turner, Avery Brentson, Jessica Brentson, and Jaleea Tate, as well as several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and other relatives. She is also fondly remember by many friends, including her dear friends Carol Meeks, Faye Evans, Carol Rice, Mildred Blackman, and Paulette Black (all of Fairmont, WV), and her dedicated niece Dianne Linear, her church family, and countless others.

The family will receive friends at Morning Star Baptist Church, 100 McKinney Street in Fairmont, on Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. The service will be on Saturday at the church at 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Fairmont. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com.