Lois Smart: What Happened to Elizabeth Smart’s Mom?

Lois Smart is an American author, former educator, and public speaker best known as the mother of Elizabeth Smart. She became widely known after Elizabeth’s kidnapping brought the Smart family into national attention. Readers also search for Lois because of her long marriage to Ed Smart, their 2019 divorce, and her life afterward. Over the years, she has worked in education, supported her family, and co-authored a book about their difficult family experience. In this article, we explore Lois Smart’s early background, career, marriage, six children, divorce from Ed Smart, relationship with Elizabeth, and what her life looks like today.

Quick Bio

Who Is Lois Smart?

Lois Smart is an American former educator, author, and public speaker who became known as the mother of Elizabeth Smart. She spent many years raising a large family with her former husband, Ed Smart. Lois received widespread public attention after Elizabeth was abducted, a difficult experience that placed the entire Smart family in the spotlight. She later helped tell the family’s story through a book written with Ed. Although her family became widely recognized, Lois eventually chose a much quieter lifestyle. Following her divorce in 2019, she largely stepped away from public attention and focused more closely on her children and grandchildren.

Early Life and Education

Lois Francom Smart was born on May 31, 1957, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Her parents are Myron Francom and Jenny Francom. She grew up in Utah and later attended the University of Utah. Education became an important part of her professional life, and she eventually worked as an educator. Before becoming widely recognized through her family’s story, Lois lived a relatively private life centered on work and family. Her background in education also included working as a district art specialist for the Jordan School District. This career allowed her to use her interest in education and art before public attention changed her family’s everyday life.

Lois Smart’s Career

Before becoming a public figure, Lois Smart worked in education and served as a district art specialist for the Jordan School District. Her professional life later expanded into writing and public speaking, especially after the events involving her daughter Elizabeth brought the family international attention. Lois and Ed Smart also became authors when they shared their family’s experience in a book. She appeared in the 2017 television mini-series Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography and was featured in a 2021 episode of the Crime Junkie podcast. In more recent years, however, Lois has reduced her public appearances and has maintained a considerably more private lifestyle.

Marriage to Ed Smart

Lois Smart married Ed Smart in 1986, beginning a marriage that lasted for more than three decades. The couple built their family in Utah and had six children together. During their marriage, Lois and Ed belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and raised their children in their faith. Their relationship later became known publicly because of the attention surrounding their daughter Elizabeth. Through an extraordinarily difficult period for their family, Lois and Ed appeared together publicly and supported efforts to bring Elizabeth home. Their marriage lasted approximately 34 years before major personal changes eventually resulted in their separation and divorce in 2019.

Lois Smart’s Six Children

Lois Smart and Ed Smart became parents to six children during their marriage. Their children are Elizabeth, Mary Katherine, Charles, William, Andrew, and Edward Jr. Elizabeth, their second child, was born in November 1987 and later became the most publicly recognized member of the family. Lois remained closely connected to her family despite the difficult circumstances they experienced over the years. She is also a grandmother, including to Elizabeth’s three children. Family has continued to play an important role in Lois’s life after her marriage ended. Her quieter life today is largely centered on maintaining her relationships with her children and grandchildren away from regular media attention.

Lois Smart and Elizabeth Smart

Lois Smart became widely recognized because of her daughter Elizabeth Smart and the kidnapping case that attracted enormous public attention. During that difficult period, Lois appeared before the media as the family worked toward Elizabeth’s safe return. The experience permanently changed the Smart family’s life and later became an important part of their writing and public work. Elizabeth has continued to maintain love and respect for both of her parents despite their later separation. When Lois and Ed’s marriage ended, Elizabeth focused on supporting both parents rather than publicly judging their personal decisions. Lois has remained an important part of Elizabeth’s family life as both a mother and grandmother.

Bringing Elizabeth Home

Lois Smart and Ed Smart co-authored Bringing Elizabeth Home: A Journey of Faith and Hope in 2003. The book describes their family’s experience following Elizabeth’s abduction and explains the role faith and hope played during that extremely difficult period. Writing the book allowed Lois and Ed to share the emotional journey their family experienced while waiting for Elizabeth to return home. It became another important part of Lois’s public identity beyond simply being known as Elizabeth Smart’s mother. Her experiences also contributed to her work as a public speaker, although she later reduced her public presence and moved toward a quieter and more private lifestyle.

Why Did Lois Smart and Ed Smart Divorce?

Lois Smart filed for divorce from Ed Smart on July 5, 2019, after approximately 34 years of marriage. A few weeks later, Ed publicly announced that he was gay and explained that he no longer identified with the LDS Church. The personal changes marked the end of the couple’s decades-long marriage. Ed acknowledged the emotional pain the situation caused Lois and described her as a loyal wife and extraordinary mother. Despite the end of their relationship, he expressed continuing love for his family. The divorce process was completed in December 2019, formally bringing Lois and Ed’s long marriage to an end.

Life After the Divorce

Following the divorce, Lois Smart took a noticeably different path from her former husband. Rather than discussing her personal life frequently in public, she largely withdrew from media attention. Her focus shifted toward family and private personal pursuits in Utah. Reports following the separation indicated that Lois and Ed were no longer speaking at that time, although details concerning their relationship afterward have remained private. Lois has not built a highly public profile around the divorce or her former husband’s new life. Instead, she has continued living quietly while maintaining close relationships with her children and grandchildren and keeping most aspects of her personal life away from public attention.

Did Lois Smart Remarry?

Lois Smart has not publicly remarried since her marriage to Ed Smart ended in 2019. She has also not announced a new romantic relationship. Her life following the divorce has remained largely private, with her family appearing to be one of her main priorities. Ed, meanwhile, moved forward publicly with a new chapter of his personal life. He remarried in 2021, with photographs from his wedding being shared publicly. Lois chose not to follow the same public approach regarding her personal relationships. Her decision to stay away from regular media attention means that her post-divorce life has remained much quieter than Ed’s.

Ed Smart’s Life After Their Marriage

Ed Smart publicly embraced his identity following his separation from Lois and later remarried in 2021. He continued speaking about his personal journey and the difficulties surrounding his decision to come out after decades of marriage. Ed has also remained connected with his children and expressed gratitude for their love while acknowledging that the changes were difficult for the family to process. Beyond his personal life, he previously served as executive director of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which supports survivors and provides programs such as self-defense education. His public journey contrasts with Lois’s decision to maintain privacy following the end of their marriage.

Where Is Lois Smart Now?

Lois Smart currently lives a private life in Utah. Since her divorce from Ed, she has significantly reduced her public presence and appears focused on family and personal matters. She remains connected to her six children and grandchildren, including Elizabeth’s three children. Although Lois once appeared regularly in connection with Elizabeth’s story, she no longer maintains the same level of media visibility. Her occasional appearances have included the 2017 Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography mini-series and a 2021 Crime Junkie podcast episode. Today, her lifestyle is considerably quieter than during the years when her family’s story attracted widespread public attention.

Final Thoughts

Lois Smart is best known as Elizabeth Smart’s mother, but her story also includes a career in education, writing, public speaking, motherhood, and major personal changes. She spent approximately 34 years married to Ed Smart and raised six children before their marriage ended in 2019. Their family faced extraordinary public attention following Elizabeth’s kidnapping, and Lois later helped document that experience through Bringing Elizabeth Home. After her divorce, she chose privacy instead of continuing to live prominently in the public eye. Today, Lois lives in Utah and remains focused on her children, grandchildren, and a quieter family-centered life away from regular media attention.

(FAQs)

How old is Lois Smart?

Lois Smart was born on May 31, 1957. She is 69 years old as of 2026. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has spent much of her life in the state.

Why did Lois Smart divorce Ed Smart?

Lois filed for divorce in July 2019 after approximately 34 years of marriage. Ed later publicly announced that he was gay and no longer identified with the LDS Church. Their divorce was finalized in December 2019.

Is Lois Smart still married?

No. Lois Smart is divorced. Her marriage to Ed Smart officially ended in 2019, and she has not publicly announced another marriage or a new romantic relationship since their separation.

What does Lois Smart do for a living?

Lois Smart is an author, public speaker, and former educator. She previously worked as a district art specialist for the Jordan School District and co-authored Bringing Elizabeth Home with her former husband, Ed Smart.

How many children does Lois Smart have?

Lois Smart has six children with her former husband, Ed Smart. They are Elizabeth, Mary Katherine, Charles, William, Andrew, and Edward Jr. She is also a grandmother and remains focused on her family.

Where is Lois Smart now?

Lois Smart lives a private life in Utah. After her 2019 divorce from Ed Smart, she largely stepped away from public attention and focused more closely on her children, grandchildren, and personal life.