Sarah Ellen Smart

Sarah is preceded in death by her grandparents Dorothea Bonner and Joseph Allen Dorsey; grandparents William and Billie Smart; step-grandfather Ron Burt; uncles Justice J. Bonner Dorsey and Bobby Doggett; aunts Tammy Smart and Beverly Bonner Lewis; and cousins Tobie Doggett and G. Dudley Fitzsimmons.

Sarah is survived by her loving husband, Ryan Murray; her adored two-year-old daughter, Nova Alanna Murray; parents Danny L. Smart and Dawn Dorsey-Smart, Ph.D.; grandmother Joy Burt; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Sarah graduated from Calallen High School and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She then earned her Juris Doctorate degree at St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2016, attending night school while working full time at a local law firm.

Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer on her last day of law school at the young age of 28. A testament to Sarah’s strength and resilience is the fact that she studied for and passed the Texas Bar Exam while undergoing treatment. Sarah loved the law and enjoyed her work as a lawyer at Valdez & Treviño; they were like a second family to her.

In 2019, Sarah married Ryan—the love of her life. She embraced Ryan’s love of BMX and his BMX family. They traveled together, shared a love of music, and enjoyed home improvement projects. In 2021, Sarah and Ryan welcomed beautiful Nova Alanna to this world. She instantly became the center of their universe. Nova truly is Sarah’s “mini me,” from her gorgeous hair to her spitfire attitude.

Sarah was forever a fighter for just causes. This included shutting down a Petland store and becoming involved in the Leon Valley City Council, among others. She was an animal lover. She adored her pet “mini” pig, Bandit (who did not stay mini for long), and her 15-year-old maltipoo, Bella. Sarah was incredibly generous and known amongst her friends as the best gift giver. She was a talented artist and had multiple projects in progress at any given time. When Sarah put her mind to something, she jumped in wholeheartedly and had a tenacious spirit everyone loved.

Sarah was loved greatly by her best friends, Kaitlynn Vail, Jennifer Neal, Alexis Sansing, Kayla Gale Francis and so many more. Special gratitude to Sarah’s oncologist and friend, Dr. Sharon Wilks, as well as her friend Bianca Gleich and all those who supported her during her courageous battle.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 am on October 29, 2023, at the Veranda, 1746 Lockhill Selma Road, San Antonio, Texas 78213. Memorial contributions can be made in Sarah’s name to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.