Ranger Exes Memorial - RHS Class of 1961

Linda Truesdell Smith LINDA TRUESDELL SMITH was born on Oct. 31, 1942 in Borger, TX to Cordella (McNabb) & Melvin Austin Truesdell. She passed away on Aug. 31, 2023 at her residence surrounded by family, with interment at Concan Cemetery in Uvalde, TX. Linda grew up on the family farm/ranch in Stevens County TX and despite her petite size was expected to help haul hay, work in the garden and tend the livestock along with her sisters and brother. They all learned the value of hard work from their parents. She faithfully rode the school bus on a fifty-mile round trip to school in Breckenridge. Linda attended Ranger High School in the Class of 1961 for a short time but graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1961 (Go Buckaroos) with many honors and awards and then entered cosmetology school. After graduating as a licensed beautician, she owned and operated Linda's Hair Salon for thirty years. Linda's many clients soon became close friends due to her warm & loving personality. She often started work at 6:30 a.m. and worked without a break until after dark. Somewhere along the way she met Darrell Smith, her soul mate, best friend and the love of her life. This meeting transformed both of their lives and they were married in Dec. of 1978, and shared their lives for 45 years. Linda had many passions in life such as cooking and baking for family and friends, fishing and camping, hunting, gardening, the 4-H program, her church family and visiting with friends. However, love for her family was easily the joy of her life. Becoming a grandmother (Nanaw) was the happiest day of her life and she loved all of them dearly along with many other children who called her Nanaw. Linda appreciated kind and genuine people, she appreciated the smallest of gestures that made someone's day or life better. She recognized blessings, she knew the value of making do with what you have and she was very proud to be known as a down to earth person. She is survived by her husband of Uvalde; daughter Michelle Robinson and husband Greg of Uvalde; son Jeff Jones and wife Mary Alice; sister Sheila Robbins (RHS-1969); grandchildren Kade Robinson, Kendal Robinson, Trevin Johnson, Abby Jones and Jordan Qualia; granddaughter Maggie Phillips; great-grandchildren, Nash Johnson and Lainey Quinn Kelsi Lessner Robinson and many special nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, grand- daughter Kelsi Robinson, sister Elizabeth Ann, and brother, Gary. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.