Carol Smith Ruecker (July 29, 1941 ~ November 2, 2019)

Carol Smith Ruecker, beloved wife of Frederick A. "Rick" Ruecker, DVM. Dear mother of Leslie (Brad) Cobble and Karen (Adam Eaton) Ruecker, MD. Dear grandmother of Jessica "Jessie", Nicole "Nickie", Alexander "Alex", and Abigail "Abby". Dear sister of Gerald W. (Donna) Smith, Michael J. Smith, and Kimberly (Thomas) Smouse. Our dear sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend.

Carol was born to the late William Edward and Mary Grodecki Smith of Webster Groves, MO. While a student at Webster Groves High School, she developed her most treasured and life-long friendships. She watched and cheered those friends as they went off to college while she worked at Monsanto Company.

She married and then was widowed months before bringing her first-born daughter, Leslie into the world. Mutual friends introduced her to her current husband of 51 years, which was followed by the birth of her second daughter, Karen 2 years later. After establishing her nuclear family unit, Carol realized a long-held dream in 1981 when she graduated with a degree in English from Webster College, her husband and daughters proudly looking on. A consummate enthusiast of the written word, she used her degree to teach in the English Learning Center at Meramec Community College in Kirkwood, MO. There, she widened her circle of friends and helped countless students succeed in their educational endeavors.

Always a creator, her artistic talents found an outlet in embroidering and sewing clothes for her daughters and husband early on. She later used her gifts to lovingly design and assemble quilts for family members and friends. If you were lucky, your marriage or new baby got celebrated by one of Carol’s quilts. In later years, her artistic abilities expanded as she applied oil paint to canvas, developing richly colored scenes in addition to her own sense of peace and satisfaction.

She was generous of her time and resources and fervently supported causes she cared about. She was a proud member of the St. Louis Zoo's Marlin Perkins Society, worked to further the efforts of the American Association of University Women, and was particularly involved the Old Trails Historical Society, first as Treasurer and then as President. There, she devoted her energy to preserving the heritage of the Bacon Log Cabin on Henry Road in Manchester, MO.

Lifelong a lover of all animals, she cherished her pets and would stop her car to assist every turtle crossing the road. Sparrows nesting in the decorative birdhouse by the front door were not only an endless source of fascination and delight for her, but of concern as well-for she worried about the baby chicks as if they were her own.

She was devoted to her family and friends and would never miss a chance to make a meal, throw a party, celebrate an occasion, or give a gift. Her sense of humor was never-ending, and while she could be alternately silly, sarcastic, biting, or bemused, she was always in on the joke and assumed everyone else was too. It has been our deepest privilege and honor to have her in our lives, and know that the ripples of her influence extend outwards to everyone who knew her. She will be deeply missed by all those in her family.

To celebrate her life (while acknowledging her distaste for somber colors), we invite all well-wishers attending her memorial service to wear something either brightly colored or her favorite hue of light blue. In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the Old Trails Historical Society with a donation in her name.

Services: Memorial service at the Schrader Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway, Ballwin, Friday, November 8, 2019, 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Old Trails Historical Society. Memorial visitation Friday 4-6 p.m. Friends may sign the family’s on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.