Linda L. Baggett Smith

“Give me a problem and I’ll hand you a solution.” Those who knew Linda L Baggett Smith would agree that that motto accurately described her. Linda was a woman of great drive and a very original, independent thinker. For Linda, no challenge was impossible, and just about any desired result was within her grasp. Linda placed great trust in her intuition. Since that intuition generally led her in the right direction, who was she to doubt it.

She was the daughter of Wardell & Mildred Baggett. Her childhood found her in Las Vegas, NV where she matured into the independent person she eventually became.

Linda grew up with Four Siblings. She had one older sister Virgina Williamson, one younger sister Sandra Baggett, two younger brothers Franklin & Perry Baggett. Linda could be seen as being stubborn by her siblings. It was important to her that she was perceived as “right” when it came to her part in those typical family spats. However, this quality did not over power her caring for her family. This ability to balance her family, with her need to be seen as right, helped her to develop into a young adult while enjoying many good times with her family.

During her grade school years, Linda was a very focused and serious student who actually enjoyed the challenge of many classroom problems. She was determined to succeed, and she drew upon her gifts of trust and perseverance to provide her with a competitive edge. While her first love might have been academics, Linda took part in Volleyball. Linda delighted in projects that required planning, critical thinking and resolution.

During high school, Linda was relentless in her pursuit of learning, especially in those subject areas that really grabbed hold of her interests. It wasn't that she didn't put forth her best efforts in all classes, but if a subject really interested her, she would eagerly put forth extra effort to learn all she could. Linda graduated from Chaparral High in 1975.

Linda was loyal to her friends. She found that she was most in tune with people who had similar interests and thought about things much the way that she did. Linda sometimes had a tendency to be critical in her friendships but she was more interested in finding out what was right in a situation rather than in being mean toward others. She never intentionally set out to hurt any of her friends. Linda was a person who challenged others to fend for themselves and to be original in their thinking and evaluation of the outside world. While growing up, some of her best friends were Veneda Hardin, Linda Jones. Later in life, she became friends with many of people.

Linda often neglected her own feelings in order to give to others. This was very true when it came to how she dealt with her children. She was able to hand on to each child a number of strong values. She taught them to appreciate their abilities, gave them a desire to persevere despite obstacles and set within them a drive to succeed. She had Two children, One daughter Lakoiya Baggett Williams, and one son Dwaun Baggett. She also had two grandchildren, Marques and Alexus & her niece Jessica. They were always aware of how much Linda loved them.

During Linda's professional working years, she was at her best when working independently. It became the hallmark of her performance. Linda was generally able to refocus her drive and determination and readily work toward finding a way to get things done that was beneficial to herself and her co-workers. Her primary occupation was a change person at a casino in Las Vegas. She was employed for 13 years at the Sands Hotel and Casino and 6 years at The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino .

For Linda, her outside interests and hobbies became another exercise in learning and mastering areas that interested her. She greatly enjoyed listening to music, dancing and cooking! Linda enjoyed listening to the blues and R&B. She would wake up in the mornings put on some good music and dance around the house while she cleaned. One thing she loved to do was clean & cook. She was one person who enjoyed cleaning.

Linda loved and enjoyed family. Linda loved the aspects of planning a trip back home to Mississippi every year for the month of July. Going back home was her favorite vacation to visit her favorite cousins Verma C., Inet, & Jackie along with many family members.

Linda was forced into retirement due to having scleroderma in 1998. She missed working with her friends and was very saddened that she had to retire early.

Linda L Baggett Smith passed away on December 17, 2010 at At home in Las Vegas, NV. Linda fought a brave battle against scleroderma. She is survived by her children Lakoiya & Dwaun, grandchildren Marques & Alexus, her neice Jessica, her brothers and sisters Virgina, Sandra, Frankie & Perry & mother Mildred. Services were held at Palm Mortuary. Linda was laid to rest by cremation.

Linda L Baggett Smith was always drawn to what was measurable, practical and factual. She was a very competent person who expected competence from others. She could be headstrong and certain about the way things were suppose to be. She was determined in every aspect of her life and certain that she was usually right about things. She trusted her intuition over all else, even if it opposed the popular belief, and she had faith in her inner vision and speculations. She wanted to be acknowledged by others as having made a contribution to whatever she was working on. Her family and friends will miss her fierce determination, relentless innovations and analytic mind. She leaves with all those who knew her the smile she kept on her face, her high pitched laughter & many wonderful memories.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Downtown Funeral Home, Las Vegas, NV.