Linda Smalley

LINDA SMALLEY

Cedar Rapids

Linda Delzell Smalley, 71, of LaGrange, Texas, passed away peacefully into the arms of the Lord, her Savior, on Monday, April 21, 2014, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born in Evanston, Ill., on June 24, 1942, she moved to Cedar Rapids, where she grew up and later graduated from Wash-ington High School. On a high school choir trip to Dallas, she fell in love with SMU and convinced the rest of the family to move to Texas in 1962. At SMU, she became a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Phi Beta Kappa honorary society and the Mortar Board Society, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. After graduation in 1964 and a short career in advertising, she met Bob Smalley who proposed three weeks after they met. They were married June 26, 1965, in Dallas.

Bob and Linda moved to Albuquerque in 1968, where Bob did his internship and residency, then moved to Lubbock in 1971, where he began his radiology practice, and in 1985, they made their final move to LaGrange.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Wendell Delzell and Helen Delzell.

She is survived by her husband, Bob; son, Michael of LaGrange; daughter, Jean and husband Richard of El Campo, Texas; her sister, Nancy Delzell Mason and husband Jack of Magnolia, Texas; her brother, Larry Delzell and wife Paula of Plano, Texas; along with nieces, Amy and Lisa Mason in Houston; and nephews, Christian and Matthew Delzell of Dallas.

Linda was a devout Christian and very involved in the Presbyterian church wherever she lived. She served in many leadership roles at the First Presbyterian Church in LaGrange, where she was an ordained elder, directed the choir, taught the Women's Circle III Bible Study and even preached on occasion. She was widely loved and admired and leaves behind many who will miss her deeply, but will be looking forward to seeing her in heaven one day.

Linda's friends and family will always remember her as being witty, intelligent, curious, perceptive, musically talented, gifted and dedicated to family and work.

A private family burial will take place in Winchester, Texas, followed by a Memorial Service at the First Presbyterian Church in LaGrange at 11 a.m. Monday, April 28.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Linda's name to Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 368, La Grange, Texas; Relay for Life, American Cancer Society, LaGrange Chapter; Brazos Valley Hospice, 1048 N. Jefferson St., La Grange, TX 78945; or the charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements by Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home in LaGrange, Texas; (979) 968-3121.