Linda Smith Kirtley 77, a longtime resident in the heart of Mina, Nevada passed away on May 24, after a seven year battle with lung cancer.
Linda was born on July 23, 1944 to Loral E.(Signs) Smith and Chester J Smith in Cedar City, Utah. Linda graduated from Cedar City High School in 1962 and moved to Puerto Rico soon after to marry the love of her life Carl L. Kirtley, who preceded her in death.
Due to Carl’s job in explosive mining, the family lived all over the western United States. In 1965 they moved to and fell in love with a small community of Mina. She was a janitor at Mina Elementary for 13 years. While there she impacted so many young lives through sharing her artistic talents.
Linda and Carl volunteered in the community maintaining the cemetery and marked every grave with a cross and ribbons. Even after the closing of Mina elementary they maintain the lawn and playground without payment from the community to use. Linda was also a Girl Scout leader, a 4-H leader, and was president of the Mineral County Friends of the Library as well as an active member of the local craft club.
Linda is survived by her little brother Jack (Sharon) Smith of Cedar City Utah her two beloved daughters Carlie (Triston) Moulton of Las Vegas and Carrie Kenton of Yokosuka, Japan, one grandson Foster Kenton III of Hawthorne, one granddaughter Sasha Moulton of Eagle Mountain, Utah and four great grandchildren.
There will be a celebration of life for both Linda and Carl at the Mina Cemetery on Saturday, October 8 starting at 11 a.m. and lunch to follow at the VFW.
