Linda L. Houlden

Linda Lou Houlden of Charlevoix, MI drifted off into the loving arms of Jesus her Savior on Thursday afternoon on September 4, 2025, after a long bout of dementia that stole her mind and her memories.

Linda was born on March 7, 1945, as the first child to Anna Jenne (Taege) Redman and Harry Maxwell Redman in St. Johns, Michigan. Harry and Anna first raised Linda and her younger brothers, Billy, Johny and Tommy on a farm near Maple Rapids, Michigan until their divorce. Anna moved the children to Ithica, Michigan then married Richard Gault while Linda and her brothers were young teenagers. Anna later had 2 more children with Richard – Sherrie and Robert. Harry moved on to marry Donnis and moved to Lansing, MI. They had 2 children – Allen and Tina.

Linda graduated from Ithica High School in 1963. She was very artistically and musically talented. She played Baritone in Marching Band and made beautiful dresses with her mother for special occasions. Her talents led her to study commercial art first at Central Michigan University then on to Michigan State University. While at Michigan State, Linda suffered a terrible mental/nervous breakdown and had to quit her studies. She was sent to treatment at the Traverse City State Hospital for several months. Mental health issues later lead a Bipolar diagnosis and continued medications for the rest of her life.

Linda’s brother, Bill introduced her to his good friend, Richard (Dick) Houlden. Linda and Dick got married in Ithica on April 15, 1967. Their first child, Claudia was born in December of 1970. They moved to a dairy farm north of Carson City, Michigan in 1972. Linda enjoyed milking cows and raising chickens while Dick farmed corn and alfalfa and started a millwright business building grain elevators all around the state of Michigan. Their second child, Harry was born in September 1975. After a housefire and bankruptcy, the family moved to Charlevoix County during the blizzard of 1978. Their third child, Walter was born on New Years Day 1981. Linda and Dick went through many challenges in their marriage and ended up divorced in 1991.

To reinvent herself, Linda went back to school at North Central Michigan College and graduated with an Associates of Arts degree in 1994. While attending NCMC, Linda met her second life partner, Glenn Tarrent. Glenn moved into Linda’s home and stayed with her until he passed in May of 2016. Together they ran a House Keeping/Maintenance business and took care of many homes around Lake Charlevoix and Walloon Lake. They traveled together and Glenn encouraged Linda to draw and paint again as they aged into their retirement years.

All her life, Linda loved the Lord Jesus and studied the bible often. She enjoyed Christian Worship programs on TV and sent donations to PTL and CBN often. She attended several different churches until she finally settled into the Green Sky Hill United Methodist Church near Susan Lake in Charlevoix.

After Glenn passed away, Linda began showing signs of Dementia and had a hard time taking her medications at the right time in the correct doses. Walter moved home to help take care of her and keep an eye on her. In home nursing care was brought in a few times a week, but even with the extra support it was too difficult to keep her on an even keel. Linda moved into Boulder Park Terrace Nursing facility in April 2019 and lived there with a wonderful caring staff while Dementia took over her mind and her body. After some almost deadly UT infections, Hospice care was added as well in the summer of 2024.

Linda is survived by her daughter, Claudia (Rob) Daniels, grandson Caleb Daniels of Boyne City, MI; son, Harry Houlden of Fairbanks, AK; son, Walter Houlden (Autumn Newstead) of Charlevoix, MI; brother, John (Debbie) Redman of Boyne City, MI; brother, Thomas (Mary) Redman of Ada, MI; brother, Allen (Shirley) Redman of Petoskey, MI; sister, Tina Redman (Chris Cherry) of Grapevine, TX; brother, Robert Gault of Haslett, MI; ex-husband, Richard Houlden; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and ex-in laws. Linda loved all her family greatly and would keep in touch with everyone whether they were still married or not.

Linda is preceded in death by her sister, Sherrie (Gault) Sattler; mother, Anna Jenne (Taege) Gault; father, Harry Maxwell Redman and brother, William H Redman. Stepparents, Richard Gault, Lucille Redman and Donnis Redman.

Linda’s family is very grateful to all the staff at Boulder Park Terrace and Hospice of Northen Michigan for giving her their attention and compassion as Dementia stole her memory and talents. In Lew of flowers, please consider making donations to Hospice of Northern Michigan or to research to cure Dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

A Celebration of Life & Luncheon will take place Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 2:00 PM at the Boyne City Free Methodist Church, 839 State Street, Boyne Citty, MI 49712. Pastor Jerry and Ellen Cook will officiate.

Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on her guestbook below.