In 1924 Wilson (Bill) T. Hart and Roberta Meyers Hart of Dexter, Missouri gave birth to a second little miracle. They called her Linda Lee.  They were happy that they now had a  sister for their first little miracle, Roberta, nicknamed “Bobbie”. But her Mom and Dad were not the only ones proud of Bobbie and Linda. Bill’s mother and father, George and Annie Hart only had the one child and so these two little granddaughters were very special.  All of this is important for Mom’s story, because it is their strong love for the family that helped to mold her into the kind of person we have loved and admired.

Back to the story…As Mom grew up it was obvious that this gregarious little girl had a love and talent for music as well.  She loved learning to play the piano, and it wasn’t long before she could play almost anything she wanted.

Mom went to Dexter High School and graduated in May of 1941.  Not only was she an excellent student but was involved in many school activities.  Besides being on the Honor Roll, she was a member of A Cappella and the National Honor Society.

She was also President of the Junior Music Club, the Dramatics Club, and the pep squad, and also Secretary of the Beta Club.  She also received the American Legion Award and the Activities Award in her senior year.

After she had completed college, the family decided to move westward,

and they settled in a quiet little town in the Tehachapi Mountains of California called Frasier Park. Her grandparents, George and Annie Hart, bought a large home there, which accommodated not only them, but their son, Bill, his wife, Roberta, and their two children, Bobbie and Linda. 

The family enjoyed their new home in the mountains, and grew in their love for each other.  Then Mom met the love of her life,

Russell P. Smith, our dad, and they were married in 1946.  Their love continued to blossom and in August of 1947 their first little miracle was born, Paul…that’s me.  Soon, two other miracles followed, Dale and Jimmy.  These new additions were enjoyed and loved by all of Mom’s family, and it was obvious that Mom’s dream of having a family of her own had come true, and she was thrilled.  Coming from a loving family helped her to draw close to us, and so we were showered with the same love and attention she enjoyed growing up.  That unselfish love  continued throughout our lives.

In 1954 Dad and Mom decided to move to Bakersfield.  It was

there that Mom started her career as a piano teacher.  Teaching

piano made her happy.  She not only loved teaching the children, but she enjoyed interacting with their parents.  Music gave her

a feeling of fulfillment. It was the icing on the cake.

Mom and Dad enjoyed their life raising us three boys, but in 1957 a special surprise came along.  Their fourth little miracle was born.  But this one was extra special…It was a little girl!

They named her Gerda, after one of Mom’s good friends.  Now their little family was complete, and Mom was complete.  The reason I call the children miracles is because that is the way she felt about us all…The same way her family felt about her and her sister.

So, that is Mom… a loving, self-sacrificing mother, an accomplished musician, and a terrific friend to all who knew her.  Though we will all miss her very much, her memory will continue to warm our hearts and make each day just a little brighter.

We love you Mom.

The longest chapter of mom’s life has been spent being little sister to my Aunt Bobbie; Roberta Crandall. Aunt Bobbie is mom’s older sister. She is ninety years young, and tentatively plans on staying around to see the first woman voted in to be President of the United States.

Aunt Bobbie has written my mom a letter, or card, every day for I can’t tell you how many years. Even when she injured her right arm, she wrote mom a letter every day with her left hand. Those letters were a part of mom’s every day life. If mom could depend on any one thing, it would be, if there was mail delivery, there would be a letter from her sister.

I can only imagine the loss Aunt Bobbie feels not having her little sister to share her life with anymore. No more letters to Linda to write. I hope Aunt Bobbie knows how much those letters meant to mom. That was how these two sisters shared in each other’s day. And even though they lived miles a part, they were like two peas in a pod.

"A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life".  ~Isadora James

I think that it’s quite beautiful that the last chapter of mom’s earthly life, ended with her ashes being put in their final resting place, next to our dad, on, of all days, Valentines Day.

Dad and mom were married forty plus years, when dad passed away twenty five years ago. Mom was with dad during his ten-year battle with cancer, not knowing that twenty-five years later, she would be fighting her own fight with cervical cancer.

Dad always bought mom a beautiful card, a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a bottle of Jean Nate’ cologne for Valentines Day. He would have dinner ready for her when she came home from work (She was a lucky woman, he was a very good cook). They would eat dinner, then have a drink while they exchanged gifts, and spend the rest of the evening watching TV together.

I know that dad and mom are together, happy and healthy, in a much better place. And dad must have been happy to see, that his Sweetheart’s earthly remains were going to come home to his, one final Valentines Day.

Music: Heart and Soul

When I was young mom taught piano at our home, but she eventually began giving lessons at a music studio downtown. She used to give her students a little bottle of Coke a cola and a candy bar. That might have been good strategy on mom’s part, her students would do their best during their lesson to insure that they would get their treat afterward.

Mom played piano part time in the evenings at the Belvedere Lounge, and eventually worked in to full time at the Padre Hotel Lounge. She enjoyed playing piano for the sing-a-long crowd. She didn’t even have to know the song someone was singing, she could adlib to anything, and sound beautiful doing so.

Mom was hired to do some of the manuscript work for Buck Owens back when he was first becoming a name. Tiger by the Tail is one of the songs I remember her working on. There were numerous others. I think she enjoyed the experience of being a part of his beginning.

Mom had a tremendous ear for music. No telling what she could have done with her talent, but her husband and children always came first, especially that "extra special, fourth little miracle". (That would be me!)

We miss hearing you play the piano Mom!

Music: As Time Goes By　

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Eleven months have gone by since Mom passed away on January 30, 2013. My son and I went to the cemetery (Mausoleum) today for the first viewing of the name plate on Mom’s niche. We had a brief commemorative Unveiling Ceremony, which included the following scripture and prayers:

Psalm 23 and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

The veil was removed

Two prayers were said; the first one dedicating the plaque to the memory of Mom, and the second was the Prayer of Mercy.

The ceremony concluded with a poem of comfort; “We Remember” and finally a silent personal prayer.

I would like to share the last line of the lovely poem, “We Remember”

“As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now a part of us as we remember them.”

In closing,

Going to the cemetery today for the unveiling, made me appreciate even more having this online Memorial for Mom. The atmosphere in that cold, eerily silent mausoleum, didn’t in the least bit commemorate the memory of Mom. She loved music, and making beautiful music on the piano was truly her heart and soul.

Because music played such a significant role in Mom’s life and her relationships with other people, it should only be natural that it would be an important part of honoring her memory as well. This Memorial has made that possible, and I am forever grateful.

In loving memory of Mom, Linda Lee Smith; may the light of her life continue to shine through the music that she loved.