Madeline Saundra Smith

My Legacy

Born May 6th 1945, Madeline Thedford was the fifth child of seven born to the

proud parents of Phillice L. Wright and Harrison Maupin in Slater, Missouri.

Madeline attended Alexandria Grade School in Slater, Missouri and graduated

from Paseo High School, Kansas City, Missouri.

Madeline’s first born was Beverly Tyson. In 1963 she married Willie King and from

this union two children were born, La Tonia King and Cassaundra King-Hardin.

Not allowing any grass to grow under her feet, in 1972 she married, Albert Smith

and bore her only son Alfriend Smith.

If you ever had the opportunity to see her type or perform ten-key data

entry, you’d be amazed. She had the ability to talk and ten-key all at the same

time. Her effervescent personality, skill sets, and abilities afforded her the

opportunity to work for some amazing companies. In 1963 she moved to Dallas,

Texas with her first husband. Her first job was a Data-Entry Operator for Texas

Instruments in Dallas, Texas. In 1969 she moved back to her native hometown

(Kansas City, Missouri), in 1972 she married her second husband Albert Smith

and worded her way up into management as a Data Entry Supervisor for First

National Bank. In 1987 she relocated to California and worked for various

employers from Maxicare Health Plan in Hawthorne to the Bonaventure Hotel in

Los Angeles. In 2004. Madeline relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada where she worked

as a Staff Supervisor for the Eifel Tower at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. She was so

proud of this job and anytime that anyone visited her in Las Vegas they got the

opportunity to overlook the lights of Vegas on top of the Paris Hotel.

Madeline was a high-spirited and vibrant woman that believed in living life to the

fullest. In 2010 she married her soulmate Terry Thedford in Las Vegas. This

relationship showed us all that agape love is possible. We hear many people say,

in sickness and in health and until death do us part, but when these two shared

those wedding vows, they stood by them. When faced with the decision of giving

his wife his kidney, Terry didn’t hesitate. If that’s what it took to spend more years

with her, he was all in. He was there by her side until the end.

Madeline loved plants, animals, traveling, her beloved dog/fifth child Knuckles, and

working in her garden. She possessed a natural inclination to help anyone in need

(friend or foe) and she never met an enemy.

How befitting is it that her favorite color is purple, which means royalty, majesty

and priesthood. Madeline displayed these characteristics in all she did. Where you

may see a person crying, she saw someone to share a tissue with. Where you may

have seen a person with no shoes, she saw a person to give a pair of shoes to. You

may think to yourself he looks hungry, she looks back and says can I buy you

something to eat. To know her, was to know you have somewhere to lay your head

if every you needed it. And while you were there, she would make her famous Fried

Chicken to make sure you had something to eat, she is the true picture of Matthew

25:35, no one was a stranger to her.

On July 6 2021, this wonderful angel was called home. Proceeding her in death is

her parents Mr. & Mrs. Harrison Maupin, brothers Robert C. Banks and Everette

Banks, sister Gwendolyn Fuller, grandsons Austin Giles Smith, Ta’Kare D. Horton and

Ta’Kobe Horton.

Although she is gone from the cares of this world, she leaves to carry on her legacy,

her Soulmate Terry Thedford, *Brothers Eugene and wife Edna Maupin of Kansas

City, KS, Roland Maupin of Las Vegas, NV, *Sister Wanda King of Overland Park, KS,

*Children Beverly Tyson of Las Vegas, NV, La Tonia King of Dallas TX, Cassaundra

King-Hardin of Gilbert AZ, Alfriend Smith of Gilbert AZ, Eric Thedford of Las Vegas

NV, revered as more of a mom then grandmother Tamika and husband Terrence

Moore of Dallas TX, and Tianaka Calhoun of Dallas TX, extended children Kathy

Simmons of Kansas City, MO and Regina Johnson of Rancho Cucamonga CA,

*Grandchildren Victor Vickers of Dallas TX, Starr Hardin of Gilbert AZ, RJ and wife

Kalee Hardin of Arvada CO, Forest Tyson III of Shawnee KS, Tanesha Tyson of

Houston TX, Kyesha and husband Mike Martin of Springhill TN, Jermaine Tyson of

Kansas Cit, MO, Travis Marks of Las Vegas NV, Tasanee C. Thedford of Las Vegas NV,

Ava Smith of Gilbert AZ. Andre Satchell of Hollywood CA. JaJuan Johnson of San

Bernardino CA, *Great grandchildren Terrence Jr, Terron & Terrell Moore of Dallas

TX, Tianni Horton of Dallas TX, Jaxson Vickers of Kansas City MO, Jaedyn Hardin of

Arvada CO, Travion, Traviona, Raya & Treshawn Tyson of Kansas Cit, MO, Ka’Vyea

Tyson-Curry of Housto, TX, Kyla & D’Maurea Moore, Braydon Davis, Malcolm

Martin all of Springhill TN, Ja’Mya and Jermaine Tyson Jr. of Kansas City MO,

Wynter Marks of Ashland KY. And a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.

A visitation for Madeline will be held Wednesday, July 28, 2021 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Palm Cheyenne Mortuary, 7400 West Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89129. A funeral service will occur Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 10:00 AM, 7400 West Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89129. A graveside service will occur Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 12:00 PM at Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89131.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmcheyenne.com for the Smith family.