Linda J. (Garvin) Scott of Oak Bluffs died peacefully of metastatic colon cancer on August 22, surrounded by family and friends. She was 61.

Linda approached her diagnosis with the same grace and tenacious optimism with which she approached her life. Known for her smile and caring nature, she will be deeply missed by her husband, children and family. Never one to accept the status quo, Linda did things her way right until the end, changing the rules and doing so with a sly grin the entire way.

She was born on Feb. 19, 1955 to Ernest Garvin and Lillian (Gonsalves) Garvin in Oak Bluffs. She was raised during some of the most influential years of the civil rights movement, an experience she compiled into a book based on her memories, journal entries and her family’s long history on Martha’s Vineyard. Her family will continue the work she started to complete the project.

Linda developed an early love of writing and photography, both of which remained important to her throughout her life. She graduated from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and remained on the Island for many years, working as a home aide and private nurse as well as running her own childcare service. During this time, she also developed a deep and lasting love for the Lord and became very involved with the Apostolic House of Prayer, forming a religious foundation that remained with her throughout her life.

On Oct. 19, 1986 she met her husband, Francis Scott, at the House of Prayer. It was a Sunday night service and they both recognized each other from high school. They were married on June 18, 1988 and settled down in Vineyard Haven, where they raised three children.

Linda chose to home-school all three of her children, a choice she made to better ensure they had the foundational grounding and education she wanted for them. Always a bit of a rebel, she and Francis decided to move the family to Texas and use the cross-country road trip as a learning opportunity, an experience that none of them would forget.

They lived for two years in Waco and Austin, Tex. before returning to Martha’s Vineyard. During these years Linda returned to nursing off and on and became more involved as an advocate for education on Martha’s Vineyard and youth in Aquinnah.

She was a devoted wife and mother who took great pride in the time she spent with her husband and children and her role as their primary educator.

Linda will be remembered for her contagious smile, vibrant and up-beat personality, and quick wit. Her family and friends feel blessed and humbled for having known such a selfless and kind-hearted woman.

She is survived by her husband, Francis Scott; her children Matthew Scott, Naomi Scott, and Samuel Scott; her siblings Pastor Marcia (Garvin) Buckley of Oak Bluffs, Yvonne (Garvin) Michelson and her husband Richard of Oak Bluffs, Ernest Garvin and wife Denise of Idaho, and Stephen Garvin and his wife Trudy of Oak Bluffs; as well as her nieces and nephews Christy Vanderhoop, Nya Clark, Joshua and Isaiah Garvin, Rebekah Sellers, Sarah Barbieri, Richard and Stephen Duarte, and Stephen, Cera and Serel Garvin.

A graveside service will be held at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Bluffs at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 26.

The family wishes to thank everyone for the flowers, cards, donations and condolences. They would especially like to thank the nurses and staff at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (especially floor 5B) and the staff and volunteers from the Vineyard Nursing Association and Martha’s Vineyard Hospice for their exceptional care, support and compassion over the last year.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested in Linda’s honor to the Linda J. Scott Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 2512, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or to the House of Prayer, P.O. Box 907, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.