Linda Dawn (Smades) Gourley

On August 11, 2025, our precious Linda Dawn Gourley, of Loganville, Georgia, passed from this life and went “over the rainbow” after a courageous battle with cancer.

 Linda Dawn was born on August 3, 1953, in Scott City, Kansas to Harold “Keith” and Betty (Atkinson) Smades.  Keith was in the Air Force stationed in Japan at the time of her birth but was excited to receive the telegram sent from back home stating, “Mother and baby fine, your loving wife, Betty.”

Due to her dad’s career as an aircraft electrical engineer, Linda lived in Kansas, Texas, Colorado, Ohio, then in 1968, Georgia, where she lived for her remaining years. She graduated in 1971 from Peachtree High School in Dunwoody, then went “the scenic route” in her shiny new MG Midget, before completing her degree in Urban Life Communications at Georgia State University. After working in the grocery and dairy industry for nearly 30 years, Linda went back to college and at the age of 60, received an Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education, working as a paraprofessional with Pre-K Special Needs children at Corley Elementary in Lawrenceville. She absolutely loved her newfound profession, her “calling” and the teachers, staff and children adored her.  She shaped many young lives with love, creativity, and positivity.

In her lifetime, though Linda received many academic, civic, and professional awards, even Georgia Paraprofessional of the Year 2017, Linda was most proud of her beloved daughters, Jacquelyn “Yvonne” and Valerie Alaine.  She was involved in her daughters’ VOCA Program at South Gwinnett High School.  The Gourley Girlzz enjoyed many adventures together as the “Three Musketeers” on road trips visiting her Texas family, vacations, and work trips, (pulling a HUGE Katie the Cow) which with her daughters, was most definitely an unforgettable adventure.

Linda’s hobbies included gardening, traveling, photography, tending guinea pigs and spotting butterflies!  She will always be remembered as a helpful and kind person, friendly with an incredible sense of humor, (even a bit mischievous), always with a twinkle in her eye, just like her dad.  Simply put, she was a radiant beam of sunshine to all of those that knew her and words cannot describe how much she will be missed.  Her favorite motto was: LIVE, LOVE & LAUGH, and that, she absolutely did!!  

Linda was preceded in death by her beloved dad, Keith Smades, grandparents Harry & Beulah Smades and Dick & Stella Atkinson, and niece Sydney Smades.  She is survived by her daughters, Yvonne & Valerie Gourley, her mother Betty Smades, brother Nicky Smades (Connie), sister Julie (Jack) Atkins, and numerous loving nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles & cousins, not to mention, lifelong friends. Various private family & friend celebrations are pending at this time.  The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society or Corley Elementary School in Lawrenceville. 

Service entrusted to Boston's Funeral & Cremation 404.228.1067

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