Allyson (Ally) Dru Miller Smith

Allyson (Ally) Dru Miller Smith was born to Ellie and George Miller on 28 December 1972, the third of their eventual five daughters. Even as a child, Ally embraced and excelled in a diverse range of interests, including gymnastics, archery and flute. A cowgirl at heart, every extra minute was spent riding neighborhood horses into the mountains with a bow strung across her back. Ally graduated from Bountiful High School in 1991, after playing volleyball and cheerleading through her senior year.

While at BHS, Ally met her future husband and love of her life, Bryan Smith. The high school sweethearts were fated to spend three long years apart while they each served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Ally serving in Minnesota). They got engaged within days of her return and married on August 29, 1995. They moved to Provo, Utah, to attend BYU together and there welcomed their first son, Isaac. Their second son, George, was born in France, where they lived for a year while Bryan taught English and Ally learned French.

After graduating from BYU in 2000 with a degree in history, Ally and Bryan welcomed their first daughter, Catherine. Soon after, the young family moved to South Bend, Indiana, for graduate school. There they welcomed three more children: Lucie, Zara and Milo. Ally captured these years on film and paper as she honed talents in photography and writing. Her work was featured on her local NPR station, and she had several articles published in Segullah, a literary journal for Latter-Day Saint Women, for which she was also a member of the inaugural editorial board. Ally was a prolific reader whose book recommendations could always be trusted.

This time of life was filled with family, friends, laughter, music and adventures. Ally poured her heart into motherhood and adored her children. She always had a word to say about how proud she was of what they were up to and the people they were becoming. Ally was known by many as an example and mentor who was often sought for her wisdom and advice. She was a devoted friend and cherished by all who knew her. This remained true after the family relocated to Fort Collins, Colorado, where Ally and Bry established a beautiful home in the mountains and enjoyed a close community of lifelong friends. They started an artisan framing business, and Ally spent many happy hours in the shop building and carving frames.

In January 2018, Ally was diagnosed with the breast cancer that would eventually claim her life. The ensuing years were long and difficult for her and her family. She was lovingly cared for by so many of those whom she had cared for when she was well. Allyson gifted us all with a deeper understanding of the tender coexistence of beauty and sorrow.

Ally is preceded in death by her mother, Ellie, and her granddaughter, Willow. She is survived by her husband, Bryan; by her children Isaac (Caitlin), George (Sage), Catherine (Asher), Lucie, Zara, and Milo; by her grandchildren Eden, Ezra, and Ivy; by her father, George; by four adoring sisters: Steffanie Robinson (Ash), Nikki Deforge (Alexis), Melissa Miller (Dixon Dykman), and Zanny Perrino (Jonathan); and by many beloved nieces and nephews.

Services for Ally will be held on Monday, April 27th, 2026, in the LDS Chapel located at 668 2nd Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah. Visitation will be from 9:30-10:45 a.m., and the funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m.

A livestream of the funeral service will be available here. Meeting ID: 925 0718 0396; Password 123456.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Ronald McDonald House of Intermountain Utah (935 E South Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84102; 801-363-4663).