Linda Kay Smith

Linda “Kitzi” K. Smith, 81, passed away on June 14, 2026, in Providence, Utah, surrounded by family — and held in the hearts of many more who could not be at her side but loved her no less.

Born on August 1, 1944, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Lowell Wells Smith and Verna Maye Daniels Smith, Linda grew up alongside her siblings, Lorna Rae and Lowell “Wade,” both of whom preceded her in death.

Known throughout her life as “Kitzi,” a nickname lovingly given by an uncle returning from World War II, she carried that name as a symbol of affection and identity. As a young girl in Swan Valley, Idaho, she found joy in riding her horse, Paintbrush — an early glimpse of the quiet, grounding moments she cherished throughout her life.

At just 16 years old, on December 30, 1960, Kitzi married and soon began her life as a young mother. Her journey took her many places, beginning in Salt Lake City, then Santa Ana, California, followed by Alexandria, Virginia, and later Burley and Rexburg, Idaho. After returning to Utah, she later lived in Ankeny, Iowa, and Aurora, Colorado, before spending her final three years in Cache Valley, Utah, always staying close to her children and grandchildren.

During the family’s years in Burley, questions from her children about faith sparked a renewed interest in their LDS beliefs, ultimately leading to the family being sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on January 23, 1976. That spiritual turning point became one of the defining threads of Kitzi’s life. She loved reading the scriptures, finding comfort, guidance, and strength in their pages.

She also developed a deep passion for genealogy. After her family’s temple sealing, she devoted herself to gathering family records, tracing ancestral lines, and preserving stories. Over the years she compiled an impressive body of family history — a labor of love that connected generations and reflected her belief in the eternal nature of family.

After her divorce around 1990, Kitzi faced significant health challenges of her own. A severe heart attack in 1994 changed the course of her life, and from that point forward she lived with her children in both Colorado and Utah, surrounded by the closeness of family members who brought her comfort and peace.

To her grandchildren, she was “Grammy,” a name spoken with affection, admiration, and a sense of home. Grammy was a gifted cook whose meals became the centerpiece of countless family gatherings. She had an intuitive talent in the kitchen — the kind of confident, effortless cooking that made everyone feel cared for, with recipes and tricks now passed down two generations.

Kitzi loved sewing and crocheting. Her lifelong love of fashion stayed with her always; she believed that putting on your best look prepared you to confidently face the day.

Her grandchildren remember her warmth, her style, her gentle presence, and the way she made each of them feel uniquely loved. And of course, they remember that she was always ready for a marathon game of Nertz — provided the table was stocked with Reese’s and a steady supply of Diet Coke. Even as illness limited her abilities later in life, her desire to be close to her children, grandchildren, and great‑grandchildren never faded. Family was her greatest joy.

Kitzi is survived by her four children — Julie, Charles, Holly, and Anna — as well as 24 grandchildren and 26 great‑grandchildren, each of whom carries a piece of her legacy. She is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, and her children’s father, Clyde Eugene “Gene” Gelb.

Her family will remember her for her resilience, her creativity, her gentle humor, her devotion to faith, and her unwavering love for family. A celebration of Kitzi’s life will be held with family members later this summer. Details will be shared with loved ones.