Mary Lou Ellen Pace Smith

Services to honor Ellen’s life will be held on Monday, October 13, 2025, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe, LA. Visitation will take place from 9:30am to 11am followed by the service at 11am, with Bro. David Smith, Jr. officiating. The family will have a private interment following the funeral services.

Mary Lou “Ellen” Pace Smith of Monroe, LA passed away on October 10, 2025, at the age of 96 after a long blessed life. Ellen was born on January 8,1929, in Grayson (Pistol Thicket), LA to parents Madison Touchstone Pace and Mary Lou Douglas. She graduated from Grayson High School in 1946, and then from Delta Vocational Technical School in 1979 with a certification as a Nursing Aide.

Ellen was an active member at Central Baptist Church and Emmanuel Baptist Church of Monroe, where she sang in the choir and served as a Sunday School teacher. She further served the Lord by ministering on the church hostess committee. She served as a certified nurse’s aide at St. Francis Medical Center ICU and The Urology Clinic, and assisted her husband in operating Bell's Pharmacy on DeSiard St. in downtown Monroe.

Ellen truly had a green thumb, as she thoroughly enjoyed tending to her flower beds and their garden. She was a talented seamstress and loved quilting blankets for the newborn babies of the family. Her servant’s heart and devotion was evident in all that she did and the traditions she created. For so many years, her home was the family gathering spot for birthdays, holidays, and any excuse to celebrate her family and life.

The most important part of Ellen‘s life was her family. She was a beloved wife to Carlton Cecil Smith, her husband of 66 years, and she was very proud of her six children, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Ellen is survived by her children, Mary Kay Young, and Gregory Wade Smith; thirteen grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, and ten great-great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, Carlton, her daughter, Jerry Lynn Cloud, her son, David Cecil Smith, her daughter, Bettina Rae Hitchcock, her daughter, Phyllis Ann Williams, and her grandson, James Carlton Green.

Pallbearers will be Alex Smith, Tristan Smith, Parker Tillman, Eric Green, Jacob Green, Ryan Watts, Stephen Ross, and Trinity Bass. Honorary pallbearers are Jackson Smith, David Smith, Jr., and Thomas Smith.

The family would like to extend appreciation to all the employees at St. Joseph Continuing Care Center, and the caregivers at Allegiant Hospice for their compassionate service and concern.

Memorials may be made to: Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Awareness - https://www.komen.org

The Gideons International https://gideons.org/donate