Linda and Gary Lightfoot were reported missing when they failed to return home after attending a family Thanksgiving celebration – and their bodies were tragically discovered five days later
A married couple in their 80s were mysteriously discovered dead after leaving a family Thanksgiving gathering – having apparently become lost during a journey home they had done many times previously.
Linda and Gary Lightfoot were reported missing when they failed to arrive back in Lubbock, Texas. Linda, 81, and 82-year-old Gary had made the trip from Panhandle, Texas on numerous occasions, but this time they apparently couldn’t find their way back.
The pair’s bodies were found on a ranch in Quay County, New Mexico, days after they left the family celebration following a police investigation triggered by reports of a potential sighting of the Lightfoots’ car. Barbara Scheller, a family member, explained: “They’ve driven the road to Panhandle many times. Somehow they got turned around and lost. Left their cell phone at home.”
Following the discovery on Tuesday, the Quay County Sheriff’s Office confirmed: “Tragically, both individuals were found deceased at the scene.”
The autopsy results for Linda and Gary – which will determine their cause and manner of death – may take approximately three months to complete, reports the Mirror.
The journey from Panhandle to Quay County typically takes around two-and-a-half hours. However, Quay County doesn’t lie on the most direct path from Panhandle to Lubbock, where the pensioners lived.
It’s believed that in their final journey, Linda and Gary travelled via Route 40 west through Amarillo. Ms Scheller told PEOPLE the couple were regarded as “genuine and kind people” who leave behind a “legacy of love and devotion”.
Gary, a former serviceman, worked as a law enforcement officer with the Lamb County Sheriff’s Office, before becoming Littlefield Police Chief from 1993 to 2003, the family confirmed.
The family’s memorial states: “Gary was not only [a] highly regarded retired law enforcement officer, he was a self taught wood craftsman. He could do just about anything with a scroll saw. He created wooden carved farm animals, crosses and anniversary carving for wedding anniversaries.”
Linda was employed in Abilene, Texas, with an oil and gas firm before transitioning to the banking sector. The family added: “Linda enjoyed giving cards and gifts for Easter, Christmas, birthdays and Valentines. The tribute noted that Linda kept her fireplace “burning year round no matter the temperature outside” and “counted every blessing and every day as fabulous”.
Relatives also mentioned that Linda and Gary were churchgoers who “showed great love to neighbours, friends and family.”
The pair leave behind their son, Gregg, Linda’s sister, Barbara, and Barbara’s husband, Waylon, along with nieces and nephews. The family thanked the authorities who participated in the search operation – and highlighted the significance of “being prepared while travelling, even short distances, which may save lives in the future.”
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