Melinda (Lynda) Estelle Smotherman Bruner, 84, of Hillsboro, passed away late Tuesday evening, June 18, 2024, in Italy, Texas.

Born on January 28, 1940, in Ennis, Texas, Lynda was the daughter of Marshall Hugh and Ella Frank Smotherman. Lynda was baptized at the local Baptist Church at a young age and later her father followed her in baptism. The Smotherman family soon moved to Kerens, where Lynda was a majorette and played the French horn in the high school band. On October 4, 1957, she was united in marriage to Robert Edward Bruner of Kerens. Lynda finished high school at Waco High and then attended Baylor University in Waco for the next few years. Robert joined the Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, where the couple started their family. Both daughters were born at Queen's Hospital in Honolulu. They moved back to Kerens and had a son. Lynda found her passion in being a mother and choir member while also teaching Sunday School and Children's Choir at First Baptist Church of Kerens. She enjoyed her time sewing, working with the youth and young children, but also joined the Garden Club and Music Club, where she made many friends. In 1974, the family moved to Ferris and then moved again to Hillsboro, where Lynda continued her teaching and choir membership at the First Baptist Church of Hillsboro. She joined the hand bell choir, Newcomer's Club, and the Sesame and Garden Clubs. She learned to use computers and worked with her husband at Bruner Insurance, and later, even started her own cosmetic and make-over business with a friend before eventually retiring in Corsicana to be close to her mother and older sister.

Preceding Lynda in death were her husband, Robert E. Bruner; daughter, Sherri Lynne Bruner; grandson, Robert Scott Clay; parents, Marshall and Ella Frank Smotherman; and sister, Patricia Pearce.

Survivors include: her daughter, Cindy Bruner Clay and husband, Edwin; son, Charles Robert Bruner and wife, Cindy Rosatelli Bruner; Granddaughter, Kasi Lynne Clay, of Austin; Grandson, Corey C. Clay, of Hillsboro; Granddaughters, Braedyn Bruner, of Los Angeles, CA; and Baylor Bruner Drexel and husband, Kevin, and Great-granddaughter, Lovelyn Drexel of Prosper, Texas; sister, Marsha Kay, and husband, Don Johnston of Midlothian; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at Paschal Funeral Home in Kerens, Texas, with Rev. Paul Dorsey officiating. Burial will be in the Kerens Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to First Baptist Church Youth Ministry in Hillsboro, Texas.