With gratitude for a life so richly lived, we celebrate Jean Ann Craig Smaistrla, who died on September 21, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Jean was born on October 12, 1936, in South Gate, California, to Ben and Janet Craig. She was the eldest child in her family, and in the years that followed, her sisters Joyce and Susan were born. Her early years were shaped by vivid family memories that stayed with her throughout her life. During World War II, her father worked for US Steel building ships, while her mother tended a victory garden and preserved the vegetables and fruit that grew so abundantly in California. Jean remembered taking her wagon around the neighborhood to collect cans, grease, and paper for the war effort, and she cherished memories of family picnics at the seashore.
When Jean was in the seventh grade, her father was transferred to Orange, Texas. The move brought a dramatic change from California. Orange, sitting just above sea level, brought daily rain, unfamiliar food, and the surprising presence of snakes and alligators. Even with the adjustment, the years there became another treasured chapter in her life, leaving her with dear friends and lasting memories.
Jean graduated from Stark High School in 1954 and went on to attend college. She earned a BBA in Marketing from Lamar Tech in Beaumont, Texas. She later married her lifetime partner, Charles Smaistrla of West, Texas, and together they built a full and vibrant life.
During their marriage, Jean taught elementary school and continued her education, earning a master’s degree in counseling and guidance from TCU. She also earned her LPC and worked as a counselor. Her professional life reflected both dedication and accomplishment, and her years in education remained an important part of her story. Jean taught at Corinne Crow Elementary School in Arlington, Texas, where she loved both her students and her fellow teachers.
Jean and Charles had three children: their daughter Amy and their twin sons John and Ben. After Charles completed dental school in Houston, he developed a dental practice in Arlington, Texas. After the birth of her first child, Amy, Jean retired from teaching and devoted her time to family life and to many of the activities she enjoyed in Arlington. She was active in Junior League and Woman’s Club activities, and she especially loved playing bridge with her favorite lady friends.
Later, when her husband retired, they moved to their lake house on Eagle Mountain Lake. This season of life brought still more happy adventures. Charles was an avid sailor, and together they enjoyed sailing on the lake and taking sailing trips in the Caribbean in boats they leased. It was a chapter marked by movement, companionship, and the pleasures of time well spent.
At home, Jean delighted in the things she loved most. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, and playing bridge, and she valued time with family and friends. Her days were also enriched by her involvement in organizations that mattered to her. Jean was a member of the Ladies Club of Arlington, Junior League of Arlington, Arlington Art Association, and Alpha Delta Pi alum sorority. She served as an officer in each of these organizations with pride.
Jean was also a member of Lighthouse Fellowship Church at Eagle Mountain Lake.
Her family was a central joy in her life. She is survived by her children, Amy Smaistrla Plaskota and husband Robert, and John Smaistrla and fiancée Lauren; her sister, Susan Rogers of Houston, Texas; many precious Rogers, Jackson, Gerik, and Kostohryz nieces and nephews; the precious blessings of the Terri and Evan Fisher family; and her grandchildren, Olivia Lawrence, Cole Fisher, Elle Fisher, Henry Plaskota, and Helen Plaskota.
Jean’s life held the warmth of family tables, the brightness of friendships carried across decades, the satisfaction of service, and the happiness of simple pleasures shared with those around her. From California wartime memories to Texas classrooms, community organizations, card tables, and days on the water, hers was a life filled with meaningful work, steadfast devotion, and joyful connection.
In keeping with Jean’s wishes, gifts in her memory may be made to Arlington ISD Food and Nutrition Services for students in need of help with meal accounts: https://secure.payk12.com/school/aisdfoodservices/1000/item/263735,
or to New Day Arlington, which also provides nutrition support outside of school: https://www.newdayarlington.org.
Jean Ann Craig Smaistrla will be remembered with love, gratitude, and a deep appreciation for the many bright chapters of her well-lived life.
Social Media