A Lasting Legacy of Creativity

There are some people who leave the world brighter than they found it.
Lynda Mead Alsbach was one of those people.

​Many of our Orange Easel families knew Lynda as the grandmother of one of our preschool artists, Luca Clay. After every art class, Luca Clay would call Bambi to tell her all about what he had created that day. Lynda loved hearing about his projects, his discoveries, and the joy he found in making art.

​Art wasn't just something Lynda enjoyed—it was woven throughout her life.

As a child, when people asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, her answer was always the same: an artist.
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She went on to study graphic design in college and spent her life sharing creativity with others. She served as a volunteer librarian and art teacher at St. Peter School in Marshall, Missouri.  She also worked as a paraprofessional at Northwest Elementary in Marshall in the Kindergarten and Special Education classrooms. She connected naturally with children. Her daughter shared that Lynda believed she was really just forever nine years old inside, and perhaps that's why she understood the wonder, curiosity, and imagination of childhood so well.

In her own creative work, Lynda created cheerful illustrations and colorful designs through her business, Bananas & Macaroni Co. Her favorite tools were Sharpies and Prismacolor colored pencils, though like many creative people, she could make just about anything. Her artwork was bright, playful, happy, and delightfully silly—an extension of who she was.

On her website, Lynda wrote:

​​"When I was a little kid, if someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said 'an artist.' Unfortunately, it took a long, long time for me to realize that my style of 'cutesy' art is actually legitimate. Bright and happy colors and designs are just fine and goodness knows the world can always use more bright and happy! So I'm just here doing my part to help the world out with that."

Those words feel especially meaningful today.

Following Lynda's untimely passing, her family chose to direct memorial gifts toward helping young artists continue to create. Combined with a matching contribution from Orange Easel, those gifts became the foundation of the Orange Easel Scholarship Fund.​

The Orange Easel Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund will help provide art classes, camps, and creative opportunities for children who might not otherwise be able to participate. While the fund will continue to grow and serve artists for years to come, it began with one family's desire to honor someone who believed deeply in creativity, joy, and the importance of making art.
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We are honored that Lynda's legacy will continue through the artists this fund supports.
The world needs more artists.
And thanks to Lynda, more young artists will have the opportunity to become one.

With gratitude to the Alsbach and Duran families for sharing Lynda's creativity, kindness, and love of art with our community.