Linda Ligon Smiley, 72, of Browntown, Virginia passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2017 at Heritage Hall Nursing Home.

A gathering will be held from 11 AM to 1 PM on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at Maddox Funeral Home, 105 West Main Street, Front Royal, Virginia 22630.

Ms. Smiley was born on April 6, 1944 in Roanoke, Virginia to the late Grover Carlton Ligon and Ruth Moseley Goodman.

Linda graduated from Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring, Maryland, and after Sherwood attended Southern Seminary in Buena Vista, Virginia. After college she married and had two beautiful daughters. They resided in Fairfax, Virginia, where the girls grew up. She later moved to Browntown, Virginia where she restored an old house, circa 1885, “Creekside”. Thirteen years later she built a home of her own, “Moondance” on the side of a mountain. There were amazing views from the house and abundant wildlife everywhere. She loved animals and bred Bouvier des Flandres dogs. She worked as a defense contractor, and later retired to become an avid artist and jewelry maker. Her exquisite paintings were signatures of her passion, pride and joy in life, all created in her Moondance studio where she also taught painting.

Survivors include her daughters, Sherry Ann Smiley and Tanya Smiley Bergeron; brother, Grover C. Ligon (Judy); sister, Elizabeth E. Trammell (Charles); grandson, Evan Taylor Bergeron and her beloved dog, Tulip.

In lieu of flowers a memorial donation may be made to the Warren County Humane Society, 1245 Progress Drive, Front Royal, Virginia 22630.