Mrs. Carolyn Schoenfield

Carolyn Simmons Schoenfield, passed away Monday after a quick and tough fight with cancer. Born on the 18th of October 1946 in Houston, Texas, Carolyn is survived by her husband of 42 years William ""Bill"" Philip Schoenfield, Jr., son William ""Trey"" Philip Schoenfield III and his wife Leslie and their two sons William ""Will"" Philip Schoenfield IV and John Smith Schoenfield, daughter Sara Murphy and her husband Daniel, brother Charles Simmons and his wife Julie and their sons Todd and Mark, and brother Tom Simmons and his wife Jan and their daughter Janelle and son Charles, and many, many other relatives and friends.

Carolyn, a fourth generation Houstonian, attended UT Austin where she met Bill while both were in the accounting department. After college, they married and settled in Houston where they worked and raised their two children. Carolyn worked 'part-time seasonal' as a CPA for her husband at his accounting firm. A smart, strong-willed, and opinionated woman, she lived her role as 'matriarch' quite fittingly, albeit begrudgingly because she claimed it made her sound old. She never sugar coated her opinion, but always said it with class. While she was not an overly affectionate person, everything she did came from a place of love.

She enjoyed trips to the beach house with her family (although not necessarily going to the actual beach), hanging out with friends and family, and catching up on the latest gossip. She loved dinners together – especially ones she didn't have to cook, a good glass of white wine, chocolate desserts, and was always the ultimate hostess. More than anything, she loved her grandsons and was proud to talk about them anytime. She was an early adopter of computers and gadgets and loved her TiVo and iPad. She often enjoyed staying up late reading; always a night owl, even in her last couple of weeks. Carolyn was a feisty (not bossy, she would not have liked that term) wife, mother, sister, and friend. Her presence, contribution, and love in all our lives will be greatly missed; it is already missed so much.

Her memorial service was conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Friday, the 24th of February, in the Founders' Chapel of Grace Presbyterian Church, 10221 Ella Lee Lane in Houston, where the Rev. Jane Pettit officiated with assistance from the Rev. Chris Brown. Musicians at the service included Daryl Robinson, organist, and Jenna Kyukendall, soprano.

Immediately following the memorial service, the family greeted friends, across the church courtyard, during a reception in the church library.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family suggests one's kind consideration of donating blood in Carolyn's name to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Blood Bank and coordinating the same by telephoning 713.792.7777; or, by contributing in her memory to the Memorial Hermann Foundation (memo line UT Mito Center – Carolyn Schoenfield). Kindly mail the memorials to the UT Mitchondrial Center of Excellence, 6431 Fannin St., MSB 3.151, Houston, TX, 77030.