Lisa Smiley Peña

Born on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1965, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Hylas Emmett Smiley III and the late Susan Stephens Smiley, Lisa carried the Smiley name with pride and purpose, striving to live by the spirit it evoked. The daughter of an Army physician, she moved with her family at a young age to El Paso, Texas, when her father was transferred to Fort Bliss.

Lisa grew up enjoying tennis, ice skating, and other outdoor activities, and she remained athletic and energetic throughout her life. She attended Coronado High School in El Paso, where she was known for her sharp mind, natural charm, and unmistakable honesty. She liked to tell things like they were and was never afraid to speak her mind. Lisa formed many strong and loyal friendships during those years, and those bonds endured throughout her life. After high school, she began her college studies at Texas A&M University and later transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her degree. Though she pursued a professional path in accounting, Lisa had a deep and abiding love for classical guitar. That passion would later shape both her creative life and her most meaningful connection of all.

Lisa met her future husband in Austin through mutual friends who shared her love of music. The two were introduced at a gathering of musicians and spent the evening listening to and talking about guitar. From that night on, they were inseparable. After living together in Houston and then returning to Austin, they eloped and were married beside a river at a fly-fishing lodge in Last Chance, Idaho. The mountain setting and quiet beauty of that day remained one of Lisa’s most treasured memories. Together, they raised three sons. Roy Emmett and Robert Edward were born in Austin, and John Carlos was born after the family moved to San Antonio. Lisa was a devoted mother whose love and care for her children were at the center of her life.

Lisa’s life was filled with creativity, humor, and compassion. She loved her family, cherished her friends, and never missed an opportunity to make a new one. She told the truth as she saw it, often with wit and a smile, and had a gift for bringing laughter into everyday life. Lisa adored animals and was known for taking in strays and making up songs about her pets. She had a deep love of music, played guitar beautifully, and wrote stories and poems inspired by the world around her, especially by the antics of her children. Though she never sought an audience, her writing revealed a playful, sharp, and tender mind. She supported her sons in everything they did, surrounded them with art, encouraged their creativity, and took pride in their individual paths. One of her most recent joys was witnessing her youngest son, John, develop his oil painting skills during his senior year. A painting he created of White Sands, one of Lisa’s favorites, will remain with her forever.

Lisa brought thoughtfulness and creativity to every part of life, including holidays and family traditions. One of her favorite celebrations was Easter, which she made special by continuing a treasured childhood tradition of writing clever riddles that led her sons on a joyful treasure hunt to find their Easter baskets. Her natural wit, poetic ear, and love for storytelling shone through in even the smallest moments. Lisa was also a deep thinker with a quiet appreciation for philosophy. She filled journals with favorite quotes, especially from the Stoics, and reflected deeply on their meaning. Friends and family often spoke of the calm strength and presence she showed during her illness, noting the grace with which she faced uncertainty and difficulty.

Lisa is survived by her husband, Carlos Peña, and their three sons, Roy Emmett, Robert Edward, and John Carlos. She is also survived by her father, Hylas Emmett Smiley III, and her siblings: Stephen Allen Smiley, Erin Smiley Polonet (Brian), and Sunny Smiley Saenz (Christopher). She was preceded in death by her mother, Susan Stephens Smiley.

In keeping with her wishes, her ashes will be scattered in the mountains beside a river. Lisa asked that no one be sorrowful at her passing. She wanted everyone to remember her joy, her humor, and her love . . . and above all, to Keep Smiling.