On Thursday, September 19th, 2024, at 6:09 pm, Sharla “Rusti” Jean Smith passed into eternity in Fayetteville, Arkansas due to complications from an unexpected stroke. She passed peacefully with her daughter and her family by her bedside. Rusti had recently turned 76 years young.
Celebration of Life: 2 PM Saturday, November 9th at Lake Shore Funeral Home, Waco
She is survived by her beloved daughter, Karlee N. Gardner, son-in-law Chester E. Gardner, Jr., grandson Chester “Trey” Gardner, III, her sister, Saundra” Sandi” Pilkenton and brother-in-law Terry Pilkenton. She is preceded in death by her father, Reginald Henry Wooley, her mother, Dorothy “Dottie” Lee Golden Pringle, and stepfather DPS Captain, Edwin D. Pringle, and her former husband, Carl Wayne Smith.
Rusti was born on August 25, 1948, in Austin, Texas. They moved to Arlington, Texas were she graduated from Arlington High School in 1966. Her sister, Sandi, fondly remembers taking her to Disneyland for her high school graduation.
After high school, she attended East Texas State, and UT of Arlington for fashion and design. She later graduated with a Degree in Merchandising in El Paso.
Her life was marked by a lifelong love of learning, taking classes at MCC in Waco as recently as 2021.
She met and eventually married Carl in 1980, and after 2 years of marriage, they welcomed their only daughter, Karlee Smith, on March 11, 1982. They only remained married for 4 years, they divorced, and she never remarried.
Rusti was a unique individual with a huge personality and wonderful sense of humor and was quite vivacious.
Everyone who met her loved her, and she always made fast friends all throughout her life. She had many careers throughout her life. After merchandising school, she went on to be a Production Assistant for the films “Paper Moon” and “The Exorcist”, a Stunt Woman for Ali McGraw in the original “The Getaway” with Steve McQueen, and even had an article about her published in Playboy Magazine. She went on to become a Model in Paris and New York.
She was a Production Assistant at The Texas International Pop Festival in 1969. She drove an 18- wheeler, hung wallpaper, became a Drug and Alcohol Counselor and was a hairdresser for 35 years. Rusti never backed down from a challenge.
She always maintained a positive attitude and enjoyed life to the fullest. She had a love for fashion, art and everything beautiful. Her favorite pastime was shopping for clothes and shoes, and she loved her margaritas, especially from Chuy’s. Rusti was especially happy to spend time with her only grandson, Trey, taking him to eat burgers at Freddy’s. Her greatest joy was watching him grow up, attending his baseball games and band events.
Rusti grew to know the Lord and maintained a strong belief in her Savior, Jesus Christ. She had a great love for Him and felt grateful that He loved her too. Her family is comforted in knowing she is with Him now. You could always count on her to make sure to tell you “Angels on your bumpers” whenever you were going home from spending time with her.
Her beloved family and friends will forever miss her physical presence here on earth but look forward to reuniting with her one day in the afterlife.
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
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