Louise Taylor Smith

Evangeline Louise Taylor Smith, “the lady known as Lou,” passed peacefully from this life with family at her side, on October 1, 2026, at age 88.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Larry L.R. Smith; by a son, Sean Moss Smith (Jama), and by four grandchildren: Jake, Conor (Jocelynn), Caroline and Cameron. She is pre-deceased by a son, Rannan Moss Smith (Julie), in 2018.

Lou was born in Western Tennessee, but was raised and educated in Kentucky, and always considered herself a Kentuckian, and spoke often and with gratitude of the education she received in Kentucky’s schools from elementary and secondary schools in Mayfield, through graduation from the University of Kentucky in Lexington where she earned “with distinction” a B.A. in English literature, and a Phi Beta Kappa key. After graduation and a brief stint at teaching in Denver, she returned to her beloved Kentucky and as Research Assistant to the founders of the UK Medical School, used her skills in organization and writing to assist the establishment of the Medical Center.

She was married at Christmastime in 1959, to Larry L.R. Smith, a classmate at UK, and resident of Lexington.

Their return to Lexington from Denver resulted in a move to Cincinnati where their two sons were born. A move to Indianapolis followed in 1967 and Lou became a fulltime homemaker. Her life was filled with the joy of her family and her avocations of gardening and the building of her library. She was an active volunteer in several organizations, offering her skills in organization, writing and lecturing to educate others. Her close relationship with her four grandchildren brought unsurpassed joy and fruition to her life of loving and serving others.

The rite of Christian burial for Lou will be observed in a private, graveside service at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens on Allisonville Road on October 7, 2026. The family respectfully asks that attendance be limited to close family.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to The American Boxwood Society (www.boxwoodsociety.org); or Geist Christian Church (www.geistchristian.org).