4/23/1945 – 5/27/2026
Federal Way, Washington
Linda Pearl (née Davison, formerly Stafford) also published under the names Crying Wind and April Knight, sadly passed away on May 27th 2026, at the age of 83, in her home at Federal Way, Washington. Her ashes are to be scattered in her beloved island of Oahu, Hawaii, on a date to be determined.
She was born on April 23rd 1943 to Leonora (Hamlet) and Leslie Davison in Greeley, Colorado. Linda spent her early childhood in Lawrence, Kansas, before moving to Divide, Colorado. In Divide, she lived on a small farm with her parents, where she owned a treasured horse named Golden Girl. Inseparable, these companions rode all over the Rocky Mountains and even successfully competed in barrel racing. There, she would graduate from Woodland Park High School.
For over 70 years, creative Linda labored over her great love of being an author, artist, and missionary. She is well known for her best-selling, award-winning novel Crying Wind, which sold over 500,000 copies worldwide and was translated into 15 languages. She owned art galleries in New Mexico and Alaska. Linda served as a Christian Missionary on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico in the early 1960’s, an experience that influenced her future writings and evangelistic endeavours.
Altogether, Linda published over 50 books and thousands of stories during her lifetime, winning many awards. A lifelong learner, she was always researching for her next project. Lucid and earnest to her last day, she leaves countless unfolding stories on perpetual cliffhangers.
She had an infectious enthusiasm for life and a genuine spirit that drew people to her. Always a fantastic speaker, she really knew how to enthral a large crowd, going on numerous book tours and giving over 50 television and 150 radio interviews, as well as many other public speaking engagements.
Throughout her life, she pursued various hobbies that reflected her diverse interests. Particularly, her love for horses served as a limitless source of inspiration for both her art and writings. As a keenly adventurous outdoorswoman, she enjoyed beachcombing and surface hunting for arrowheads, accumulating a once large and valuable collection. Linda lived in Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Missouri, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Australia.
First and foremost, Linda was most passionate about being a mother to her four children, of whom she took endless pride in the fine adults they became. She is lovingly survived by her children, Aaron, Shane, Trinity, and Storm, as well as her six grandchildren, Colt, Shiloh, Zion, Dahlia, Sean, and Lucy.
The family wishes to express its utmost gratitude to Aaron Stafford for looking after Linda in the final years of her life.
In her honour, memorial donations can be made to the Southwest Indian Foundation.
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