Linda Alexander McKeown

Beloved sister, mother, grandmother, wife, and friend, Linda McKeown passed away Monday, January 19th, 2026.

Daughter of Neil Alexander Sr. and Faye Yarborough Alexander, she lived a rich life full of love. She will be dearly missed by her husband Bob, her three children, Alec, Caroline, and Kit, her grandchildren Juliet and Arthur, their mother Elizabeth, and her brother Neil. A service will be held at 11am Friday January 23rd at First Baptist Church in Chester with visitation preceding and interment to follow.

Linda, known to many as 'Cotton' for her white-blonde hair, was born January 4th, 1955 in Chester, SC. She was lucky to grow through her school-age years alongside friends she would keep for life. She enjoyed spending summer days at her family's fishing cabin on Lake Wateree where she learned to waterski. She mastered the slalom and could take off from the dock, go for a spin, and return to shore without getting her hair wet. Following her love of the natural world, she studied biology at Winthrop. While there, she continued to make friends and decided to give a chance to the boy from Chester pining after her for so many years; the man who would be her partner in life, Bob McKeown.

After graduating, Linda and Bob were married October 20th, 1979. She spent her time raising three children and cultivating an ever-expanding garden. She was an amazing mom, and poured her love into her children, instilling in them her passion for learning, her spirit of generosity, and her devotion to friends and family. As her children grew, she chose a job at her alma mater and returned to the Winthrop Biology Department as lab manager. Here she fit in naturally with the botanists and biologists and found lasting friendships and work she was proud of. She shared her bounty of tomatoes with friends and neighbors every summer and always maintained that grocery store tomatoes taste like disappointment. She was a delightful Mimi to her grandchildren and loved to show them the wonders growing from the soil in her garden.

In 2025, Linda realized a dream of hers to return to Lake Wateree. She and Bob bought her Uncle Bub's house on the river, next door to where she spent many summer days growing up. It was filled with family at every holiday and brought new memories for new generations to cherish. Linda found much satisfaction watching the sunrise across the water and seeing her grandchildren playing under the pecan tree in the yard.

She touched the lives of many people in her time on Earth. The love she shared will be carried on by her friends and family. We love you, Linda.

If desired, memorials can be made to First Baptist Church, 102 Church Street, Chester, SC 29706  (803) 377-7187.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.barronfuneralhome.com