Obituary of Linda Anne Temple Ashton

Linda Anne Temple Ashton, age 78 of Jacksonville FL, passed away on Monday June 13, 2022 after a surprise illness. She was born to the late Jennie Marguerite Temple on March 1, 1944 in Palatka, FL. Linda spent her childhood in Vermont Heights, FL where she dressed up the family rooster (for her tea parties) and heard the cries of Florida Panthers in the woods, and generally annoyed her mom by digging holes at the foot of the steps. Linda’s family moved to Jacksonville where she attended Ribault High, class of 1962 and was an officer of Future Homemakers of America. She met her husband John Duane Ashton while working at May Cohens department store prior to becoming a nurse. Linda worked as a nurse for the majority of her career at St. Luke’s Hospital and finally retired from Mayo Clinic. She was short with a big heart, and was a very loyal, devoted and courageous care giver. She was known for going above and beyond with her patients, often sitting and talking with them if they were afraid. Her coworkers remembered her sense of humor, her smile, her contagious laughter and that she was always willing to help and share nursing tricks. When anyone in the family was sick, she was the one who would be by their side through it all. She struggled with self-doubt and a fiery temper - proving she was indeed a redhead. Linda loved photography and made that her hobby. When her younger daughter got into the “crazy about horses” phase, Linda went along to support her and practice sports photography, she even made a small side-hustle photographing riders. When her older daughter started making jewelry, Linda supported her art. She was extremely proud of her daughters and was their biggest fan, supporting whatever dream that they went after. John Wayne and Sam Elliot were her heroes. Even though there are no new John Denver songs, she would buy any new compilation from John Denver that came out (ok mom, we’ll humor you). She was also very fond of Placido Domingo and the music of the Three Tenors. Linda came into the tech age solely to use the iheartradio app so she could listen to music of the 40's and 50's, otherwise, she bothered her daughter with the techy stuff. Later in life, she started studying shamanism, and exploring spirituality, meeting new friends whom she was very close with. If you loved dogs or horses then you were one of her people. She also really enjoyed her class reunions and reconnecting with her friends. Linda was widowed and never remarried because she was so devoted to her husband John, and said there was no one else like him. In recent years, she would often talk about how much she still missed her mom and wanted to see her again. Now she is with her loved ones on the other side, and we have the rose bush that she loved and cared for. She is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Michelle Ashton and Victoria Marguerite Ashton, her brother Michael Leslie Temple and his wife Francie Eller Temple, and many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband John Duane Ashton, mother Jennie Marguerite Temple, her brother Horace Wayne Temple Sr. and sister-in-law Juanita Clemmons Temple, sister Anne Temple Melvin and brother-in-law Seaborn “Bud” Melvin. Services will be held at Eternity Funeral Home on Tuesday 6/28 at 11AM at 4856 Oakdale Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207. You may send flowers or make a donation in her name to Wild Horse Rescue Center in Webster, Florida, adopt a Florida Panther (or any other wildlife) through Defenders of Wildlife at defenders.org, or donate to other wildlife conservation society or humane society that reflects her love for animals and her desire for fairness in the world. You may also, if you choose, plant a memorial tree in her name via the website at www.eternityfuneralhome.com. The family asks that you visit Linda’s page and on the Eternity Funeral Home website and leave a tribute on her wall.