Russell Weathers

Russell “Rusty” Weathers, 72, of North Richland Hills, passed away on April 29, 2021 at the home of his loving family.

Celebration of Life:  A casual come and go celebration for Rusty will be held on May 15, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the home of Clayton and Joanna Weathers: 10232 Red Bluff Lane, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Memorials:  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Cook Children’s Hospital.  Details for toy donations can be found at: https://cookchildrens.org/giving/donate/Pages/wish-lists.aspx.  For monetary donations:  https://giving.cookchildrens.org/Covid19.aspx.  New and unopened toys can also be brought to the Celebration of Life and will be delivered by the family to Cook Children’s.

Rusty was born on June 26, 1948 in Rogers, Arkansas to Glen Houston Weathers and Lucille Walkup Lawrence. As a child his family relocated to Grand Prairie, Texas where he attended Grand Prairie High School.

As just a teenager, Rusty began a career as a land surveyor. It is a career that he truly loved and continued throughout his life until his retirement from The City of Arlington in 2013.  His career as a land surveyor provided him with not just an income and a sense of purpose; it forged special friendships and brought love to his life.  He began his surveying career at Southwest Surveying and it is also here that the young secretary would turn out to be a special girl named Laverne, who would soon become his wife.  They married on December 1, 1972 and were married for almost 47 years until Laverne’s passing. Rusty and Laverne had three children together, Clayton, Stacy, and Jennifer. One of Rusty’s greatest joys in life was being a father and supporting his children, and later his grandchildren with any means necessary. He said often that his greatest accomplishment was being a devoted husband and father with a family he loved more than anything.

Rusty was a true gentle giant.  He had a love for children and was always ready with a great big lap for them to crawl up into and a place to just be that was filled with love and warmth. Rusty walked this earth with one of the kindest, most generous hearts imaginable.  He always had an encouraging word and a helping hand.  Rusty will be remembered for his overalls, mustache, beer steins, a big red truck that drove grandchildren to games and school and went on road trips.  And, most of all, Rusty will be remembered for his infectious smile and warm laugh that was always with him.  Rusty will be dearly missed by all those who loved him.

Waiting eagerly for his arrival into Heaven is Rusty’s wife, Laverne Weathers, infant daughter, Jennifer Weathers, sister, Tanya Weathers, father, Glen Weathers and father and mother-in-law, Frank and Madeline James.

Survivors:  Rusty is survived by his mother, Lucille Lawrence; son, Clayton Weathers and wife, Joanna; daughter, Stacy Shappley and husband, Ned; grandchildren, Austin, Meredith and Caden Weathers, Hunter and Harrison Gafford, and Noah, Harper and Oliver Shappley.