LaRae Rust

Our Fabulous wife, mother, grandma, and best friend passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her favorite people.  She put up one helluva-good fight against cancer.

LaRae was born November 5, 1964, to Manual Louis and Gladys (Ball) Downard.  She grew up in Coalville, Utah.  She married Garrett Smith and raised two amazing men-Marvin and Beau.  The boys will tell you lots of stories and quotes from their mom, including Beau’s favorite “I giveth you life and I can taketh it away.”  Her eyebrow and fingernail-tapping are infamous in certain circles!  LaRae loved her boys and enjoyed being a mother.

LaRae married the love of her life, Dwayne, in 2006, gaining two more children-Chancy and Shantelle.

Dwayne and LaRae shared the most amazing adventures and truly loved being together, whether they were Dutch-oven cooking, or going for a ride.  LaRae always had a project to keep Dwayne busy.  He’s probably picking up a miniature donkey or a peacock right now!

LaRae worked hard to make her home a place of love and laughter, wanting everyone who entered to be immediately comfortable.  LaRae was incredibly friendly and inviting.  Within thirty minutes of meeting her, you’d be life-long friends and she’d have told you what-was-what as well.

LaRae loved being a grandma most of all.  All her grandbabies know that “Ooh, Ooh, Ooh!  Grandma loves kisses!”  She spent countless hours with them baking banana bread, planting in the garden, and snuggling in her bed watching shows and sneaking sodas.  “What happens at Grandma’s, stays at Grandma’s!”

LaRae always said “It is what it is,” and often threatened to have that tattooed on her backside.  She spent many a day puttering around the yard, crafting, or running amok with her partner-in-crime LuAnn.  She had a very special bond with her brother Manual and sister-in-law LuAnn  and her niece Christiane.

LaRae is sorely missed by her husband Dwayne, Children-Marvin (Liz), Chancy, Beau (Tua), and Shantelle (Trevor), and Grandchildren- Jeremy, Jacob, Zoey, Garrett, RaeLynne, Adelyn, Maci, Eleanor, Kathryn, Camden, Fynn and Elliott.

LaRae taught us to stop and smell the flowers, that a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet, and to always eat dessert first.  We’re blowing you kisses, Grandma!

Special thanks to Canyon Hospice, especially Taylor and Elsie for their tender love and care.  Special thanks to Christiane for all of your help and love.