Linda Gail Copper, 77, died Wednesday September 16, 2026, in Sentara Careplex Hospital after a brief illness. Born in Hampton, Linda graduated from Kecoughtan High School in 1967 and worked briefly at NN Shipyard. Her thirst for adventure took her across the country to Washington State where she lived for more than 40 years. During that time she wore many different hats, including a book keeper for a friend's printing press shop, a baker for several restaurants to include bread, cakes, cookies, etc. from scratch, a pine needle basket weaver, and a carpenter, but she loved flowers, and she eventually became a flower farmer, selling them both wholesale, and taking special orders for beautiful arrangements. On Vashon Island, she set up a booth at the Farmer's Market to sell her baskets and flower arrangements.

Linda had travelled extensively in the world even spending a season in Antarctica where she worked as a carpenter. She has been referred to as a “true Renaissance woman”. Every Christmas, Linda would bake many different kinds of cookies (Poppy Seed and Russian Tea Cookies) and send them to her family and friends. If there was family event Linda was the designated dessert maker. Linda loved nature, hiking, swimming, kayaking and learning new things (fiddle lessons, spinning her own wool, making intricate lampshades from paper). She was a "birder" and loved to look for birds with her binoculars on hikes. One day in the hospital, she even requested her binoculars to look out the window. Her personal gardens were always amazing with color, variety, native plants and butterflies; Linda did everything to preserve the earth just as God created it. Animals also held a special place in her heart, especially cats and dogs.

Preceded in death by her father, George Copper and her mother and stepfather, Joyce and Angelo Sgavicchio; survivors include her brother, Mark Copper and his wife, Sandra; her sister, Margo Copper Finkel; her nephew, Jason Finkel and his wife, Ashley; her niece, Erica Curran and her husband, Chris; and her great-nephews and great-nieces, Keawe, Maribelle, Ameliya, Grayson, and Abigail. She will also be missed by many long time friends, especially Homer Smith and Suzanne Hosier; and her kitty Ginge.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2pm on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Greenlawn Memorial Park. A visitation will be held at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home at the beginning of October. Please check back for the date and time.

Memorials may be made to Tips and Toebeans (a cat rescue that provides Trap, Neuter, Release) by clicking HERE.