Linda Rose (Willey) Smith

Linda Rose (Willey) Smith was born on March 24, 1946, and died peacefully on May 1, 2026, at the age of 80. Her parents were Donald and Ellen Willey, and she had six siblings: one brother and five sisters. She lived in Greensboro Bend until she met her husband, Richard Smith. They married on May 8, 1964, and were married for 58 years. Together they had four children: Robert Smith, Tillie Smith, Lisa Racine, and Carl Smith.

She would tell stories of running on the train tracks behind her house beating the train to the end of the bridge with her siblings. She babysat kids in "the Bend" until she moved to the farm with Richard and his family. Linda loved to bake and would make homemade bread, rolls, and cinnamon rolls regularly. She also made cakes of all shapes for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and other occasions. On Sundays, family would drop by and there might be five people for dinner or 12, and she always made sure that everyone had plenty to eat.

Linda worked on the farm beside Richard every day. They were a team through the good and bad times. They did make time for some fun though, and that was dancing. Most Saturday nights they could be found cutting the rug at CG's or Paul's Sugarhouse. In the summer when B&W was open, they would order just before they closed and would bring it back to sit in the milkhouse to eat before finishing chores.

Linda leaves behind her four children, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren with three more on the way.  There will be a private celebration of life.

"Gram was always humming — whether she was baking cakes, cooking family meals, hosting a cookout, or out milking. The sweet scent of spearmint gum was always on her breath. She was never too busy to play hide-and-seek between the cows or join in countless other games, even while getting chores done. She introduced us to frosting on toast, somehow making it perfectly acceptable for breakfast or a snack. She is deeply missed, but I'm so grateful she's back with Gramp, dancing away together once more. You are so loved.

"With love, her granddaughter Samantha."

"Grandparents have a special way of making everything seem fun and mine were no exception. Whether it was helping with chores at the barn, baking together or something as simple as getting dinner from B&W when all the work was done, it just seemed so special at Grandma and Gramps. I guess I'll never really know if Gram made up songs as she went or was singing from her own childhood, but the songs she sang us will never fade from my memory. Either way, when Gram sang, she had a way of making all feel right in the world. Gram was extremely hard-working, determined, strong willed, and was the epitome of stubborn and fierce, qualities I think all of us got passed down in one way or another.

"Gram, you're missed down here, but I know four years without Gramp was long enough, and I find comfort in knowing that you are together once more. I know you'll watch over us and keep us safe. We love you always.

"With love, her granddaughter Melissia."

"I love my gram beyond words. She was always there for me telling me what I needed to hear even if I didn't like it. She helped me become the woman I am today. She was the first one to teach me how to braid. She was always a call away if I needed to ask about a recipe. I have many memories of cooking with my gram. She was a loving woman I will miss her very much.

"With love, her granddaughter Cassandra."