Linda V. Smith

Linda Louise Varsell was born March 25, 1940. Her parents were Helen (Erickson) and Roland Norman Varsell of West Hartford, Connecticut. Linda graduated from Conard High School in 1958 and Central Connecticut State College in New Britain with a degree in Elementary Education. She married Courtland L. Smith on June 21, 1961. They went to graduate school at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She received a Master's in Educational Psychology and he received a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology. Son Kip was born in 1963, Jonathan (Jasper) in 1966, and Beckie in 1970. In 1969 the family moved to Corvallis, Oregon where Court taught anthropology at Oregon State University. Linda taught Creative Writing, Life Story, and Children's Literature at Linn-Benton Community College. Her Literary Publication class produced the award-winning The Eloquent Umbrella, showcasing local writers and artists. She received an Outstanding Part-time Instructor Award. Except for two sabbaticals in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and Bethesda, Maryland, Linda lived in Corvallis. Linda was active in cooperative and competitive Scrabble, and several writing groups such as Poetic License, Poetry Readers, and Children's Book Writers (now the Critique Group). She served on the boards of, and as president of, the PEN Women of Portland and the Oregon State Poetry Association. The latter awarded her the Pat Banta Award for promoting poets and poetry in Oregon in 2020. She served on the Editorial Board of Calyx Books for over 30 years. She received the Calyx Founders Award in 2014 for her service to Calyx and women in the arts. Linda also worked with the League of Women Voters on education and children's issues and started an After School Program with Susan Johnson. She published over 25 books of poetry and 12 Rainbow Chronicles youth fantasy novels. Three books on poetry forms are available online. Maureen Frank formatted and illustrated most of the poetry books. Linda had her own press, Rainbow Communications. She kept a diary from age 11 and maintained a Smith Family Chronicle from 1966–2023. She gave poetry workshops and readings. Linda and Court sponsored a Youth Poetry Contest for The Arts Center for many years. Together they received the Celebrate Corvallis Patrons of the Arts Award in 2007. Linda collected miniatures. She lived in a miniature museum with over 4,000 angels, Annalee felt seasonal figures, childhood dolls, two large dollhouses made by her parents, and Swedish folk art. She visited Swedish relatives several times and traveled throughout Europe with Court and their family. Linda loved her family, friends, poetry, plays, art, astrophysics, dark chocolate, and dance. She was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers, Robert and Richard, and her son, Kip. She is survived by her son Jasper; daughter Beckie Hemenway (Jay); grandchildren Haidan SmithWilliams, Rowan Williams, and James LeClair (Deserie Balbaneda); and great-grandson Achilles Balbaneda LeClair. She wishes everyone light and love. Three open houses of her Rainbow House Museum will be held September 19 (10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.), September 23 (6:00–8:00 p.m.), and September 27 (4:00–6:00 p.m.) at her museum home, 471 NW Hemlock Ave., Corvallis. For questions, call (541) 753-3335. Arrangements have been entrusted to DeMoss Durdan Funeral Home.

Linda V. Smith

March 25, 1940 - August 2, 2026