On October 20, 2023, Louella Smiley peacefully went to Heaven at the age of 69. Louella aka Lou, Mama Lou and Mom, was born in Prescott, Arizona on August 24, 1954. Her family moved to Lawton, Oklahoma and Lou graduated in 1972 from Eisenhower Senior High School. In 1980 Lou moved to McLoud, OK, and in 1998 she fulfilled a lifelong dream and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education. She went on to teach at McLoud Public Schools for 19 years, touching many lives and making a huge impact with the love she showed to her students, co-workers and friends. After retirement in 2017, Lou continued to substitute teach and work in education. She loved spending time with her daughters, grandkids and loved ones. She loved keeping in touch with her former students and friends. She showed her love by being a listening ear and loving unconditionally. Oh and the cookies. If you never got a Mama Lou cookie you missed out. She loved to bake for everyone. Lou loved to sew, read and drive. It was not unusual for her to take a drive on any given night.

Lou was preceeded in death by her parents George and Roberta McDaniel, and nephew Christopher White. She is survived by her daughters Jennifer (Michael) of Choctaw, OK and Christina of Tecumseh, OK; three grandchildren Dominic, Joseph, and Ryan; sister Mary (Tom) of Elgin, OK; brother Stacy of Lawton, OK; nieces Brandi (Tom), Melissa (Justin), Maranda, and Katrina of Lawton, OK; nephew Mandin of Lawton, OK; Morgan of Richmond, VA and Ryan of Topeka, KS and many more great nieces and nephews.

Lou loved big and will be remembered at a memorial service on October 26, 2023 at 4pm at Sharon Baptist Church in Shawnee, OK