Carolyn Marie Schmies, age 77, was born baby Murphy in Seattle, Washington. She was adopted by her loving parents, Dr. Reverend Clifton and Dr. Reverend Mary H. Morgan and primarily lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania until her parents accepted the call to missionary work in India. There Carolyn attended the Kodaikanal International Boarding school and gained a sister when her parents adopted Giti Morgan. She returned to the United States for her senior year of high school before she attended Anderson College (now University) in Anderson, Indiana where she met her first husband Jerome. She graduated with a double major in Speech/Communication and Sociology.  She completed her masters of Communication from the University of California, Berkeley and Ball State University before beginning her almost 37 year tenure at Delphi/General Motors.  She also became a mother to Césha Monique, Evelyn Channelle and Clifton Jerome Brown. Carolyn was always a faithful member of her community, volunteering, mentoring and serving.  She did divorce, remarry and divorce again before moving to Laredo, Texas in October 1994. In Laredo, is where she became a grandma, a very cherished role, to Monay Laniece Cavazos and she met her husband, Kenneth Schmies before they were married on April 12, 1997. Carolyn was blessed to reconnect with her biological family and her siblings, Martha Odusanya, Lanny, Glenn and Garry Taylor who along with their children brought so much joy to her life. Carolyn retired from Delphi, started her own business with her husband, was the Catering Director at the Laredo Country Club, and eventually began working at Laredo College where her retirement job turned into another full blown career as she progressed from Speech Instructor, to Chair, to Dean of the South Campus before fully retiring. She never ceased with her community work and served in various ways, but especially as the President of the United Way of Laredo until the day she died.

Carolyn Marie Schmies was a bright light and shining star to all who she encountered. She was a devout Christian and woman of God. Her life of service makes it hard to list all the various organizations and people she impacted but she was a valued member of the Laredo community and also the Laredo United Methodist Church. She was keen on attending their Christmas service so that she could sing in the choir with her friends.  She was very giving, quick to write a check or donate money, and speak words of encouragement to all who knew her. Carolyn was known for being fabulous, for her kindness, for having a tremendous fashion sense, and for employing her grand communication skills to stay in touch with friends, family and those she especially loved. She truly enjoyed her rich connection with her extended family including her step-children, nieces, nephews, God-daughter, and so many of her cherished friends. She was able to better keep up with them all as a pseudo senior citizen social media influencer or avid Facebook user. She was always open to meeting new people and truly delighted in the kindness shown to her even by strangers. She loved well, was beloved and will be truly missed.

Carolyn Marie Schmies passed away early in the morning on December 23, 2025 in her sleep; it was peaceful and she didn’t suffer which brought her family some comfort. She is preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Martha Odusanya and Susan Coleman (Paul); and her daughter, Césha. She leaves behind her loving husband, Kenn; her beloved children, Evelyn Channelle Brown Jones (Yancey), Clifton Jerome Brown (Wa’Metheia), Amber Schmies Smith (James), Kendra Schmies Gilbert (Colin), and Shaun Schmies (Heidi); her darling grandchildren, Monay Laniece Cavazos Ogundipe (Dayo), Wa’Drevius Buchannon, Hunter Connelly, Ethan Connelly and Jaxston Gilbert; her dear siblings, Git Kiewet, Lanny Taylor, Glenn Taylor (Myretta), Garry Taylor (Terri), and Karyn Carosella (David); a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and dearly beloved family and friends.

The Schmies family will be receiving guests on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services from 8:30 am to 11;00 am.  Funeral service will follow at 11:00 am.  Interment will follow at the City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Way of Laredo | 1815 Hillside Road, Laredo, TX 78041 | (956) 723-9113 | https://unitedwaylaredo.org/

Funeral arrangements are by Fred Dickey Funeral and Cremation Services, 1320 Trey Dr., Laredo, Texas 78041 (956) 723-3611.  For your convenience, you may leave your condolences to the family online at www.freddickey.com

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