Listen to the Obituary
Linda Louise Russ (Burgan) passed peacefully from this life on June 11, 2025, just days before her 76th birthday. Born on June 17, 1949, in her Aunt Thelma’s kitchen in Harlan, Kentucky, Linda was the last of her family born in those mountains and hollers.
She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Timothy Michael Russ, her cherished daughter, Carey Lynn Russ, her father, R.L. Burgan of Harlan, KY, and her mother, Mary Jane Burgan of Greensburg, KY.
Linda is survived by her loving daughter, Amelia Jane McKinney; her grandchildren, Kaila Russ, Emma McKinney, Aidan McKinney, and Avery McKinney; and her great-grandchildren, Silas Russ, Evallen Louise Collens, and one more precious baby due on her birthday. All reside in Somerset, KY, where her presence and love continue to be deeply felt.
She also leaves behind her sisters, Sharon Mendez, Regina Burgan, and Mary Gunterman, all of Louisville, KY, who carry her memory forward with strength and sisterly love.
From the moment she entered the world, Linda was an undeniable force to be reckoned with. Fiercely independent and unforgettably spirited, she touched the lives of those around her in ways that words can scarcely capture. Her legacy lives on in the laughter of her grandchildren, the strength of her family, and the stories that will be told for generations.
A celebration of Linda’s life will be announced at a later date.
In honoring her memory, we remember a woman who lived with fire in her heart and left this world just as boldly and on her terms as she entered it.