Mary Louise Smith

With her family by her side, Mary Louise Smith (nee Doll) passed away at The Jewish Hospital on the morning of September 6, 2017. She was born December 28, 1926, in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up on the city's west side on Rulison Avenue near Prout's Corner.

Mary Lou was the daughter of Milton John "Pete" Doll and Mary Henrietta "Mamie" Doll. She was the youngest of five Doll siblings: Antoinette, Edna, Dorothy, and Thomas. Mary Lou was baptized at St. Teresa of Avila and attended elementary school there. She attended Seton High School and, after graduation, studied social work for two years at Mount St. Joseph University.

In 1947, Mary Lou was married to Francis D. Smith. They made their home in the Walnut Hills area. Their four children are Sharolyn Blythe, Francis Dennis, Darryl Rex Daniel and Carolyn Gaye. As a mother, Mary Lou is remembered for her hot chicken salad, leading the PTA, filling her living room with cookies to support the Girl Scout troop she led and, most importantly, surrounding her children with a pillow of unconditional love.

Mary Lou discovered a love of teaching while a long-term substitute at St. Francis DeSales and Annunciation Elementary Schools. She renewed her studies at Edgecliff College, this time studying education and graduating in 1965 with a teaching degree. Hired by the Cincinnati Public Schools, Mary Lou taught the third, fifth and sixth grades, but in her heart, the third grade was always her favorite. School memories of Mary Lou include her leadership of the Green Thumb Club, cooking for large spaghetti dinners and teaching each day through the riots of 1969. Mary Lou also served her profession through her presidency of the Southwest Ohio Education Association.

Those who knew her witnessed Mary Lou's belief that all children can learn. She believed that teaching each child, regardless of their natural talent or difficult family situation, was her responsibility. She engaged with children and stated, "If a child can talk to you, the next step is reading and then comes writing." Mary Lou retired in 1987 after 22 years of service.

A divorce occurred and, years later in 1976, Mary Lou and George Moore united their families. This brought Mary Lou three stepchildren: Victoria "Tori," Jeffrey and Sally Moore. The blended family remembers dinners around a big table and large "trample the front lawn parties" with family and friends. George and Mary Lou enjoyed the opportunity to travel across the United States and Europe. They spent several pleasant winters in Cocoa Beach, Florida. As the years passed, they came to love their little Finneytown home on Warder Drive, leaving only for the opportunity to see family and friends.

Mary Lou treasured her time with her grandchildren. She took them to and from school, taught them to play gin rummy and poker and made holidays special with warm family traditions.

Mary Lou loved crafting and playing games. She was kind, but never a pushover. Often, her opinions were delivered via a distinctive, disarming eye roll.

Those who knew Mary Lou well were struck by her optimism. It has been said that she could look at a situation that others saw as hopeless and cling to a shred of possibility that things would work out. This outlook framed her positive view of life, and it cheered and supported those she loved.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, her husband George Moore and the father of her children, Francis Smith. She is survived by her children: Sharolyn Smith, Dennis (Susan) Smith, Dr. Darryl (Sharon) Smith and Carolyn Gaye Smith; stepchildren Tori, Jeffrey, and Sally; grandchildren: Amanda Katona, Shannon Smith, Kelly Smith, Adrian Smith and Gabriel Smith.

Services for Mary Lou are scheduled for Monday, September 11. Visitation at B. J. Meyer Sons Memorial Home, 4841 Glenway Ave. (next to St. Teresa) from 8:30-9:30AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Teresa of Avila Church, 1175 Overlook Ave. at 10:00AM. Burial to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery-W.8th and Seton Ave.
Preferred memorials to St. Jude's Hospital for Children. www.bjmeyer.com.