Obituary of Linda Kay Fudge

Linda Kay “Nikki” Fudge’s Eulogy Linda Kay “Nikki” Fudge, the oldest of 3 children, was born in Chico, California, on January 9, 1953 to Nancy Orlena Fudge (Divine) and Clayton Lee “Kay” Fudge. Linda grew up in Sacramento, California, on Freeway Circle, with her siblings, Debra Ann Fudge and Clayton (Skeets) Lee Fudge Jr. While growing up, school was easy for Linda, as she was intelligent and inquisitive. She was also very stubborn and would not accept “because I said so” as an answer to any of her questions. At 16 years old Linda gave birth to her son, Shayne Christian Fudge, on August 15, 1969. The next period of Linda’s life was marked by wild times on Haight/Ashbury in San Francisco, communes in Berkeley, the start of some substance addictions, and several prison stints. Although these years were difficult on her family, they turned out to be formative for Linda. It is during this time that Linda overcame her destructive addictions, grew spiritually, and met many of her closest, lifelong friends. Gloria Benish was one of those friends who changed Linda’s life completely, by guiding her to self acceptance and forgiveness. From 1998 to 2004 Linda worked for her very close friend, Kerrie Leigh Stouffer-Herd, at All Vehicle Registration. She then went to driving school and passed all her driving tests on the first attempt. She started her own company, Divine Drop, and drove a dump truck until 2015, when she could no longer meet the physical demands of driving a truck. She was passionate about being a truck driver, and was in her element behind the wheel. She beamed with a sense of pride to be the only woman in a completely male-dominated industry. Linda was an exceptionally gifted artist from an early age. After submitting a drawing to an art contest in 5th grade, her teachers did not believe she had submitted original work, but instead accused her of tracing it. She also had an art teacher refuse to work with her because her talent was so natural. Linda had the ability to see deep into people and encapsulate their truest selves in her portraits. Some of her illustrations were used in books that her friend Gloria published. Linda was a friend to all, but especially to the marginalized, outcasts, and misfits of society, where she fit right in. She welcomed, accepted and embraced everyone, despite their flaws. One of Linda’s most valued traits is that she loved unconditionally, without exception, and would do anything for the people she cared about. She was also a compassionate animal lover and rescued various animals throughout her life, her favorite of which was Gussie, her Yorkshire Terrier. As a child and adult Linda brought home any living thing in need. At one point in her life she even saved and cared for 60 rats because they were going to be sold as snake food. She valued the life of all living things, including the creatures that people often find to be gross or disgusting. Linda is survived by her son (Shayne), grandchildren (Julia, Matilda and Christian), her two siblings (Debbie and “Skeets”), and 2 nieces and 2 nephews (Melissa, Clayton, Nicholas, and Kayla). The world will know no one else like Linda. She touched the lives of every person she met and we are all stronger, wiser, and a bit more loving because of her interactions with us. When we were with Linda, we knew we were in the presence of someone remarkable and extraordinary.