Linda Susan Smith

Just as the world celebrates her birthday every December 31st, the family and friends of Linda Owens Smith celebrate her joyous reunion with God and the heavenly angels.  She was an absolute masterpiece, specially handcrafted by God and shared with the world.  Linda spent her life sharing God’s goodness and love to others, and it flowed from her naturally to the entire world.  God’s beautiful story for her earthly life was completed on September 9, 2017, at the age of 63.

Linda was born on December 31, 1953, in Knox City, Texas.  She was a New Year’s Eve baby welcomed by her parents Bobby Owens and Anna Sue Owens.  She was raised on the farm in Weinert, Texas, where she practiced her motherly instincts on her family and worked hard in the fields.  She graduated from Munday High School and Abilene Christian University.   In high school, she met a special young man by the name of Larry Smith, and on July 22, 1972, they began a new era as Larry and Linda.    Her adult life was spent helping and serving others through working with Child Protective Services or assisting families in need and working with Veterans through the West Central Texas Council of Governments.

Linda’s final chapter of life included an unexpected and quick bout with brain cancer, which gave her a treasured opportunity to make it known that this life was never about her, but about glorifying God…and it always will be.

She is preceded in death by her parents Bobby Owens and Anna Sue Owens, and father-in-law Edward Smith.

Linda is survived by her husband and high school sweetheart, Larry Smith.  Their children include Brady Smith (Abilene), Tyler Smith and Lori (Aubrey, TX), and Larinda Smith (Fort Worth).  She is also survived by her brother, Danny Owens and Pat (Wichita Falls); sister, Barbara Hobbs and Ken (Abilene); mother-in-law, Mozelle Smith (Munday); and her fun-loving, precious grandchildren: Ramey, Levi, and Luke (due 2018).  Also surviving is her “Auntie” whom Linda loved and cared for the last few years and her stepmother Ida Jo Owens.  Technically, the survivorship of family members would include all of Linda’s friends, because if you were her friend, you were a member of her family.

The family would like to thank every single person who sent encouragement or food, prayed for, called, and visited Linda.  It was a HUGE blessing to our family, and we are pretty sure broke some kind of Guinness World Record.   A special thanks to the wonderful people who work with Hospice of the Big County.   In lieu of flowers she requested donations to either Cancer Services Network of Abilene or Hospice of the Big Country .

A Celebration of Life service will be 11 A.M., Saturday, September 23, 2017, at First Church of the Nazarene in Abilene, TX.  Linda asked that you come to celebrate.