Linda Sue Smith Sullivan Hastings
Linda Sue Smith Sullivan Hastings passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home surrounded by her loving family in the early hours of August 22nd, 2023. Even as Linda faced the pain and shocking suddenness of pancreatic cancer, she shared her spirit of positivity and inspired us all with her leadership. Linda is survived by her daughters, Rachel S. Dabbs and Lara K. Skilton, her husband, Malcolm R. Hastings, her brothers and sisters-in-law, Mark and Vicki Smith and Greg and Kristy Smith, her step-children Patrick M. Hastings and Jeanne H. Walters, her in-laws James Dabbs, Eric Skilton, Martha A. Hastings, Matthew S. Walters, and her grandchildren, Oliver, Maeve, Pierce, Bradley, Renwick, Shipp, Adele, and Henry. We are all forever blessed by her example.
Linda lived her life in a perpetual quest for fun and enrichment. She was a beautifully loving and supportive mother, and her daughters basked in her warmth and wisdom as they moved through each phase of life. As a grandmother, Linda was playful and energetic, always up for a game and willing to get on the floor with a little one. She loved learning about the lives and interests of everyone she met, and she relished a taste of good chocolate or a nice glass of wine. She could make a game out of anything and was always open to adventure. Linda was brave and positive until the very end.
Linda was born and raised in Mansfield, Ohio, the daughter of James and Eilene Smith. She attended Mansfield Senior High School, where she developed a wide range of friendships and was on the cheerleading squad. She was the host sister to Swedish international exchange student Elizabeth Severs during her senior year of high school. Developing strong friendships continued through college as many of those high school and college friendships were sustained throughout her life. During her college years at Miami University in Ohio, Linda studied elementary education. After completing her degree in three years, Linda became a teacher in Dallas, Texas. She met and married Craig Sullivan. From Dallas there were additional stops in New York City and Philadelphia where she worked in computer training and furniture sales. She next moved to Atlanta, where Linda devoted her time and energy to her daughters and their school, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School. She met and married Malcolm in 2006, and they moved to Salt Lake City in 2007 where they enjoyed skiing, hiking, and traveling the American West. Those explorations took them to Santa Barbara, California in 2020 where they found and enjoyed a wonderful community of friends.
Linda’s illness moved with staggering speed, yet her courageous acceptance of her situation and her enduring good humor meant that she was a cheerful role model and joyful teacher even into the final days of her life. She will be forever missed.