Linda Ann Henderson

Linda Ann Henderson, beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and dedicated community leader of Sherwood, Oregon, passed away on May 9, 2025, at the age of 60 as the result of what the Doctors called a “Brain Bleed.” It was February 3rd, 1965, the Portland Buckaroos Hockey game had just let out. (…and they were having a fantastic season!) Gordon Henderson was rushing his dear wife Diane, who was expecting any minute, to Emanual Hospital; and the traffic was terrible. At the hospital, he was called in almost immediately; his wife had had a daughter, and they named her Linda Ann. She lived in SW Portland on Marigold Street until July 1966, when her father got a new job in Boise, Idaho. Initially, they lived in the Sherwood Park neighborhood of Boise but after her parents joined Hillcrest Country Club, they moved to a home on the 10th fairway. Growing up, in the summer, the Hillcrest pool was her playground, where she swam like a fish with her friends, and the lifeguards reveled in her love of the water. Little did the lifeguards know the little green-haired blond girl was by herself and with just friends. She learned that whatever she wanted to eat was available - just by writing dad’s number on the ticket. In High School she lifeguarded at that same pool. In 1975 Linda’s parents bought a condo in Sun Valley, Idaho where she spent many happy times with her family and friends golfing, skiing, playing tennis, fishing in the Little Wood River and enjoyed many dinners at Warm Springs Ranch. (She loved to “bomb the mountain” on skis.) In Boise, Linda attended Hillcrest Elementary, South Jr. High, and Borah High School. In High School she played J.V. Basketball, was on the Swim Team, the Tennis Team, a member of the Ski Club and the Cross-Country Ski Club, the Ecology Club, Jr. Achievement, Key Club. She was on the school paper staff, the Yearbook staff as photographer and was photo editor her senior year. She was involved in too many other organizations to list. She went to Oregon State University on President’s Scholarship to study Marine Biology; but, when funding for the program was cancelled, she changed to Microbiology, in which she earned a Bachelor of Science. She was on the Food Science Department’s “Beer Panel,” tasting the beers that major brewers were considering flavoring. She was known as the only one who could pick out and name what flavoring had been added. After she graduated, they asked if she could come back because she was so good at tasting. While she was at Oregon State, she met David Ruff, whom she later married in 1992. After OSU, she followed in her father’s footsteps and attended the University of Oregon, earning an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources. Following her degree, she worked in Human Resources; first in Clackamas at Ray’s Food Service (a wholesale grocery distributor). She moved to Eugene to be with David and was the Benefits Specialist and initially payroll person at Computer Memory Disk, which was later HMT Technology. While in Eugene she and David were married. They lived at 1989 Brittany Drive. They welcomed a yellow Labrador puppy into their home and named him Weizen. He became a wonderful dog whom she loved very much. In December 1997, she wished to move to the Portland, Oregon area to be close to her sister, Jane, who had recently had a baby. She and David chose a home in Sherwood. Not long after Linda had moved to Sherwood, she joined the Sherwood Parks Advisory Board (PAB), with the aim of getting a dog park established in Sherwood. While on the PAB, she was instrumental in the design of the second phase of Snyder Park. She also lobbied to get the name changed to Snyder Park after City Council wanted to name it “Sunset Park” and not recognize the family who had farmed the land. She also had a hand in Ladyfern Park, Pioneer Park, Woodhaven Park, and many other parks and trail projects in Sherwood. Meanwhile; after taking several months off from employment, she began working at ETEC Systems, first in Beaverton and then in Hillsboro. She left ETEC to stay home and have her first born son, Scott, in 2001. (Scott was named after her grandfather James “Scotty” Henderson.) Two years later she had her second son Tate. She loved both boys very much. She drove them to, and attended their football, soccer, basketball, T-Ball, and baseball practices and games. They share her love of basketball as their favorite sport as well. In 2004 Linda was elected to Sherwood City Council and served from 2005 to 2017; being re-elected twice. While on Council, she was involved in the building of the Sherwood Civic Center, Public Library, Cannery Square and was instrumental in the building of the Sherwood Center for the Arts. She worked on getting a Block Grant to improve the Senior Center and the operating agreement with Loaves and Fishes to run it. She was on Council when the controversy over the blue light poles occurred. Also, when she saw the concrete “Wayfinding Markers” after they were installed, she commented that they were as big as a Volkswagen Bus and had to go! In 2008 she and two other women founded the Sherwood Foundation for the Arts. The Foundation held art classes, photography classes and began performing two musicals a year. The inaugural, “Music Man,” was held outdoors at the amphitheater in Stella Olsen Memorial Park. In the following years other local groups saw the benefit of the arts classes and began hosting similar classes. She has served as President of the Foundation for the last 12 years. After the boys were in High School, she began looking for a job. For a while she drove a van for the Sherwood School District transporting students to Portland, Salem, and other locations for programs they were in. She gave them “Aaron’s Thinking Putty” (similar to Silly Putty) and other things to help them pass the time. Once or twice, she hosted a group of her passengers to a Marvel movie. Wanting to work in her field of experience, she worked at GK Machine in Donald as a Human Resources Specialist, at SR Smith in Canby as the temporary HR Manager and with the State of Oregon Employment Department as an Employment Adjudicator and most recently as an Unemployment Insurance Investigator. As an investigator she helped many people understand unemployment insurance and many who were the victims of identity theft. Also, as in investigator, she built one case as a result of fraud during the Covid unemployment payments, that the U.S. Department of Justice took to trial. She has been a Volunteer at Archer Glen School and the Sherwood Charter School. She worked on many Sherwood Chamber of Commerce events including “The Great Onion Festival” and “Cruisin’ Sherwood.” She was involved with the Sherwood Police Foundation annual banquet and auction and spent countless hours working on its preparation. She was a Volunteer Evidence Assistant with the Sherwood Police Department for almost two years. In 2009, she was “Knighted” by the Sherwood Robinhood Festival for her community service. Linda was a member of the of the Sherwood “Robin Hood” Elks Lodge and the Sherwood American Legion Auxiliary. Linda was a proud and active resident of Sherwood and told her husband that she never wanted to leave. She loved musicals, movies, being with her many friends and helping others. Her love of the ocean and whales is evidenced by many whale items in her home. She enjoyed many family trips to the beach where she could watch the ocean, and her two boys play in the sand. She enjoyed downhill skiing and waterskiing with her husband. Back in the day, when no observer was required, after work, just the two of them would grab sandwiches and go out and take turns skiing or driving until almost dark. She also enjoyed trips with friends, having gone to Key West with one friend and to Niagara Falls, Boston, and Portland Maine with others; trips to the beach, Glacier National Park, and many other places. She dearly loved her father Gordon, and as a child, her Grandfather Scotty. She is survived by her loving husband, David Ruff; her cherished sons, Scott and Tate Ruff; her devoted mother, Diane Henderson; her dear sister, Jane Holden-Payton, Jane’s husband David and nephew Lucille; close cousin Karen Hutchison; and the many friends she has made along the way. Linda will be remembered not only for her many accomplishments but also for her warmth, generosity, and unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her presence will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 31st at 3pm at the Sherwood Center for the Arts. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Linda’s memory to the Sherwood Foundation for the Arts, or any dog rescue organization of your choice.

Linda Ann Henderson

February 3, 1965 - May 9, 2025