Mary Louise Milano Smith

Mary Louise Milano Smith of Lone Tree, Colorado passed away on September 2, 2026. She was 96 years old.

She was born on May 31, 1930, to Mary Johnson Milano and Arthur Robert Milano in Denver, Colorado. She was preceded in death by her younger brother, Arthur Robert Milano Jr., in 1986.

Marilou, as she liked to be called, went to East High School in Denver, CO. She was a talented soprano in the choir and was Valedictorian of the class of 1948.

Marilou went to Colorado Agriculture & Mechanic Arts College, which later became Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. She began dating George Nash Smith of Denver, CO, after a fraternity dance. She graduated in three years, and they married on August 3, 1951.

Marilou and George loved square dancing and camping, and they climbed a few fourteeners together. The couple bought some land where they built their home and a square dance hall called The Outpost, in Aurora, CO.

Marilou worked as a dietitian at Colorado General and Presbyterian Hospital in Denver and at the West Side Health Clinic. She went back to CSU and earned her Master's Degree in Food Science and Nutrition in 1974. Marilou was hired as the Director of Food Service for the Cherry Creek School District in 1975. Her kitchens fed over 30,000 students a day. She was innovative, known nationally, and highly respected in her field. She retired after 25 years of service.

Marilou was a voracious reader and enjoyed being in her book club. In her later years she went to a swimming pool regularly to walk in the water with friends for exercise. She was passionate about traveling abroad and visited over a hundred countries.

She will be remembered as a smart, sassy, strong-willed, and independent woman. She was her own person. Marilou is survived by her sons:

Flint Smith (Gayna Marie Haus-Smith), Quade Smith (Terrilynn Moore Smith), Cody Smith (Virginia Brown), and Tyle Smith.

In lieu of flowers please send donations toSaint Jude Hospital, Rocky Mountain PBS, and/or the Denver Rescue Mission.