Charelle Tushek Burnett, 39, of Dripping Springs passed away Tuesday evening, February 1 after a courageous, two-year battle with ALS. Charelle passed away as she lived, with grace and dignity, in the loving arms of her husband, Bill Burnett.
Charelle was born May 1, 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas. Growing up along the Texas coast in Lake Jackson, Charelle was active at the Methodist church, as a high school cheerleader and was involved in many other service and extracurricular activities.
She graduated from Brazosport High School in 1989 and moved to San Marcos to attend Southwest Texas State University, where she graduated in 1993 with a degree in Interior Design.
Charelle and Bill were married on March 7, 1998 in San Marcos. They lived in Wimberley and San Marcos before moving to Dripping Springs several years ago. Charelle and Bill are the proud parents of William Walter III (Will), 9, and Ainsley Grace, 4, who are the center of their lives.
A lover of fine design, Charelle had her own very successful Interior Design firm, where she developed personal relationships with her clients that continued long after the projects ended. Charelle’s personal style reflected the livable elegance that defined her life. She loved fine fabrics and art, a passion that was an extension of how she lived.
An avid gardener, Charelle took great pride in her flowerbeds, yard design and trees, creating an oasis her family enjoyed retreating to for special activities that created memories of a lifetime.
A loving wife and mother, Charelle was active in her children’s lives as well as helping those less fortunate than herself, including volunteering at her children’s schools, serving in a leadership role for charity events such as the Central Texas Medical Center Foundation’s annual gala, the Cattle Baron’s Ball, and many other non-profit activities.
She also was a great supporter of her husband’s political career, which included two terms as Pct. 3 Hays County Commissioner from 1996 to 2004.
She is survived by her loving husband William Walter Burnett, Jr., son William Walter III and daughter Ainsley Grace of Dripping Springs; parents Charlice and John Tushek of Lake Jackson; aunt and uncle Nola and R.B. Doyle of San Marcos, cousin Brian Doyle and his wife Cindy and their children Jessica and Matthew Doyle of Buda; sister-in-law Susan Elizabeth Burnett of Austin and her daughter Laura Waelbroeck of New York City; and father-in-law William Walter “Bud” Burnett and his wife Frances of Roswell, New Mexico.
Charelle also leaves behind dozens of close friends from throughout her life whose lives were positively influenced from knowing Charelle. The family wishes to thank the many friends who supported Charelle and her family during this difficult time.
Services were held Saturday, February 5, 2011 at First United Methodist Church in San Marcos. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Charelle’s name to ALS Association, 27001 Agoura Road, Suite 250, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301-5104 or www.alsa.org
