Teresa Suzanne Smart Fowler

Teresa Suzanne (Smart) Fowler, age 52, a resident of Irving, Texas, passed away peacefully Wednesday, September 9, 2009, at Vibra Specialty Hospital in Dallas, TX, after a long and brave struggle with pancreatic cancer.Born September 4, 1957 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she attended Moore (OK) public schools before moving to Irving, Texas with her parents in 1969. She graduated from Nimitz High School, Irving, in 1975 and earned a Music Education degree from Dallas Baptist University in 1986. She began teaching elementary school in Irving Public Schools in 1999 and accepted the position of Special Education, Life Skills teacher one year later where she lovingly worked with children 15 to 22 years of age. At the onset of her illness she had just completed coursework for a Masters in Education through Lamar University.A faithful servant of God, Teresa loved her family. A devoted mother of three, her children and music were her life's passions. An accomplished pianist, guitarist and vocalist, she wrote lyrics, composed and performed. She enjoyed creating songs with her older brother as they "picked" and sang together during family visits. She played keyboard and sang in the Village Baptist Irving praise band. As an extra-curricular teaching opportunity, she developed and maintained the award-winning courtyard at Nimitz High School with her Life Skills students. She enjoyed the art of cake decorating. Fishing and camping with her family as a child continued into her adulthood. Many times she landed the most and biggest fish, a feat of which she teased her avid angler husband. She always looked forward to the adventures experienced while traveling with her family. Teresa was known as a person who would go the extra mile to help anyone.Survivors include her husband of 24 years, Robert and children Sara, Matthew and Emily of the home; mother, Marjorie Smart of Irving; brother Ron Smart and wife Deborah and their daughter Jessica, Clermont, Florida, and his children Rachael (Smart) Fixico and Dylan Smart, both of Norman, OK; sister-in-law Janine (Stull) Smart, Irving; neice Stephanie (Smart) Lile, Oklahoma City, and husband Kyle; nephew Christopher Smart, Pollock, LA, and wife Jenni; nephew Tory Smart, Oklahoma City; nephew Jason Smart, Weatherford, Texas, and wife Kandis; and grand-neices and nephews Dakota, Lyndsey, Kaitlyn, Jonathan, Jade and Justin Smart, Bryce Hilderbrandt, Kyndall and Kaleb Lyle, and Jonah Fixico; also, aunt Sharon (Smart) and husband Bill, uncle Charles Smart and wife Connie, and uncle John Smart and wife Susan, all of Independence, Kansas; uncle Kenneth VanDyne and wife MaryEllen of Shawnee, OK; aunt Virginia (VanDyne) Giles, Bandon, OR; and Bridgette VanDyne, Enterprise, AL; and many cousins across the USA.Teresa is preceded in death by her father, Harold M. Smart, and eldest brother, Timothy J. Smart, both of Irving, Texas.The Fowler family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the many close and caring friends as well as to the extended "family of friends" who poured out their love and support for Teresa during her extended battle with this formidable foe. These friends prayed endlessly for Teresa while tirelessly giving emotional and moral support to the family during the more than six months she was hospitalized. The love of God continues to shine on us today through these wonderful people during this sad time.Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 14, 2009, at Donnelly Colonial Funeral Home, Irving, followed by a 12:00 noon memorial service at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Village Baptist Irving Building Fund, 224 E. Grauwyler Rd, Irving, TX, 75061-2642.Submitted by family