Donna Sue Bothwell Smith

Donna Ann Bothwell Smith, 82 of Rusk, TX passed peacefully into the loving arms of her Savior surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 in Tyler, TX. 

On January 10, 1942, Rebel Eldon and Annie Laurie Bothwell were blessed with the birth of their first child, Donna Ann.  Growing up in Rusk, their beautiful baby girl was raised in a Christian environment surrounded by love.   A couple of years later, her baby sister Sherrell was born.   Together, they enjoyed 80 years of sisterhood.  
Donna was artistic, creative, and musically gifted.  She participated in many high school clubs, theatrical plays, church choir, and was a majorette of the band.  She was voted Homecoming Queen, and Most Beautiful and Talented.   She later used her love of the arts in her teaching career. She graduated from Rusk High School Class of 1960. She would later go on to TJC and UT Tyler to complete her Masters in Education. 
She caught the eye of Jerry Smith at a local sock hop, and after their courtship married in January of 1960.  In the following years, they had two sons.  She enjoyed being a stay at home mom.  Donna organized and managed “Our Little Miss” beauty pageants providing opportunity for little girls and their moms to play dress up and learn grace, poise and charm.   They traveled to local and area competitions were many fond memories were made.  As a family the Smiths enjoyed weekend camping trips and holidays making Halloween special with their annual haunted house, and  later July 4th get togethers at Lake Striker.
After her boys started school, she started her career in education as librarian at Rusk Jr. High creating a love for reading among her students.  She obtained her Bachelor and Masters in English and Drama advancing her career to teach at Rusk High School and later Lon Morris College.  Her classroom environment was informal, casual, and comfortable promoting student engagement.  While teaching high school, her advanced class attended Odyssey of The Mind competition in Lubbock and brought home the gold to Rusk.  
Aside from her love of family, teaching was her lifelong passion and that’s no Bull Smith !!
She is survived by her sister: Sherrell Long Grogan of Rusk; sons: Kirby Smith and wife Lisa of Rusk, and Kerry Smith and wife Anna of Cypress, TX; grandchildren: Sierra Kay Scholl and husband Drew of Hallsville, TX, Joshua Taylor Smith and wife Amanda of Houston, Haley LeAnne McKay and husband Kyndal of Cypress, TX; great grandchildren: David Brady Scholl, Wade Thomas Scholl, Harper Lynae Scholl, Eleanor James McKay, and Adeline Jane McKay; niece: Lesley Dodd Rodasti and husband Phil of Cypress, TX; nephews: Robert Byron Long and wife Kerry of Longview, TX, and Bradley Bothwell Long and wife Jen of Dallas, TX; great niece: Megan Lorraine Long; great nephew: Austin Bothwell Long. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband: Jerry Smith; and granddaughter: Scarlet Lynae Smith.
Services to celebrate her life will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the First Baptist Church, 372 East 4th Street, Rusk, TX 75785 with Bro. Tommy Corley and Bro. Tony 
 Watson officiating. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, also at First Baptist Church. Burial will be at Salem Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Kenny Finley, Drew Scholl, Kyndal McKay, Robert Byron Long, Bradley Bothwell Long, and Phil Rodasti. Honorary pallbearers will be: David Brady Scholl, Wade Thomas Scholl, Mike Abernathy, Glen Middleton, David Parsons, Andy Huddleston, and Pete Terry.