Linda Guffin

May 20, 1945 – December 22, 2025

Linda Cheryl Coder was born in North Platte, Nebraska, on May 20, 1945, to Robert Minard Coder and Mary Irene Garland Coder. She spent her early years in North Platte. The family then moved to Southern California, where her father worked as a switchman for Southern Pacific, and her mother worked as a school secretary. The family finally settled in Covina, California; and, Linda graduated from Covina High School in 1963, followed by an Associate’s of Arts degree from Mt. San Antonio Junior College in 1965. She then moved on to the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where she graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. It was at university where she met her future husband, Paul Guffin, and they were married in 1967, three days after graduating together.

From Stockton, the newlyweds moved to Madison, New Jersey, where Paul began seminary, while Linda worked at the YWCA in Chatham. After one year in Madison, they moved on to Dallas, Texas, where Linda worked for Texas State Welfare, while Paul finished his last two years of seminary. After Paul’s graduation in 1970, their moves followed his career as a pastor, with appointments in northern California in Galt, Dos Palos, Delano, Atwater, Downieville, North San Juan, and Sierra City — with an appointment to Schurz and Yerington, Nevada, tucked in after Galt. Throughout these years, Linda worked, among various other jobs, as a substitute teacher. In 1989, she earned her multiple-subjects teaching credential from CSU Stanislaus, and, in 1996, earned her learning handicapped credential from CSU Sacramento. Upon the family’s moving to Downieville in 1991, Linda engaged in substitute teaching, including a stint as a long-term substitute teacher at the Sierraville School. Finally, she went to work as the Sierra County Office of Education’s Special Education Preschool teacher, with classes in Downieville and Pike, and especially in her classroom at the Loyalton Elementary School, serving in that capacity until her retirement in 2008.

Linda’s commitment to the community was not limited to teaching, however. She served in the Downieville Volunteer Fire Department as an EMT — including being in the first class of Advanced EMTs — as a firefighter, and as a dispatcher. In all, she served the department for some 20 years. She volunteered at the Downieville Library, and rounded up stray cats in order to get them spayed and neutered. She volunteered for several years with High Sierra Animal Rescue and later at the Grass Valley Animal Shelter. She also volunteered with the North Valley Animal Disaster Group, caring for animals during several disasters, including the 2011 flooding in Minot, North Dakota, and the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California. Linda also served as an elected member of the Sierra County Democratic Central Committee, including one term as a Sierra County delegate to the California Democratic Party. Over the past year, she participated in actions against what the current Washington, D.C., regime is doing to our country, including organizing a couple of protests in Downieville.

Linda was also an avid reader, with an eclectic taste in books. At the time of her death, she was engaged in Unexpected Guest, by Agatha Christie, The Federalist, by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, Knave of Diamonds, by Laurie R. King, Denali, by Ben Moon, and The Backyard Bird Chronicles, by Amy Tan.

Those are just some of the facts of Linda’s life. But, to better understand her as a person, listen to what her children and their spouses say about their mother and mother-in-law: “She loved all living things (especially animals) and stood up for those who didn’t have a voice.” “[She] has an amazing green thumb and could grow most anything on her beautiful garden deck.” “Educator. Cared about the environment and people’s rights. Enjoyed being with her family.” “[S]he taught us kids three of the most important values there are: compassion, empathy and love. She also had a kind of sly humor that if you were paying attention was really funny.” “She had an indomitable spirit, with clear principles and the strength of her convictions. This was all based on a profound care for other people and for the world we live in.” “She had a heart and sensitivity for those on the ‘outside’ or excluded for whatever reason, and warmly found ways to welcome and embrace them and encourage others to do so too.” “She was very stubbornly (in a good way!) her own person, and made space for people to walk their own path and hold their own beliefs (assuming it didn’t cause harm to others).” “Fierce advocate for what was right.” “She was very thoughtful and was interested in and paid attention to the details of what made someone who they were, what they valued, etc…” “She was curious, inquisitive, and constantly open to new ideas and experiences.” “I will miss my ‘2nd mom’ tremendously, who among her many gifts was a tireless champion for justice and kindness, and a thoughtful, steady and grounded person who loved all — and especially her family — quietly and fiercely.”

After a five-year struggle with cancer, and a more recent stroke, Linda died on December 22, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Ricky and Michael, and numerous fuzzy children and grand-animals. She is survived by Paul, her husband of 58+ years, by her children and their spouses (Bascom Guffin & Vivian Lam, Tim Guffin & Tiffany Swan, Mary & Jon Scheid, and Rachel Guffin), by her siblings (Cindy Gault, Robert Coder, Rebecca Coder) and their families, and by Cali (cat), Tanner (dog), and granddogs Claire, Jack, and Nala.

A celebration of life will be planned and announced at a future date. Instead of flowers, Linda would have preferred that you donate to your favorite animal charity. If you need guidance, a couple of local ones are Animal Place in Grass Valley and the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe.