Roll Call Tribute

Molly Darlene (Essary) Maness Smith 

January 18, 1957 - July 8, 2025 

Molly Essary Maness Smith went home to be with the Lord on July 8, 2025 following a tragic accident. Molly lived a life full of love, service, generosity, and dedication to her family, friends, and community. Molly was born in Houston, Texas on January 18, 1957 and was the fourth daughter of Dawson Herman Essary and Mary Emily Essary. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, who were among the original founders of Galena Park, Texas and made their mark in church and community.

Molly attended Galena Park High School following behind her impressive "YaYa" sisters Diana Kurten (Jimmy), Deborah Parrott (Mike), and Candy Sherbet (Joe). She later attended San Jacinto Community College where she became a member of the San-Jans marching drill team. Representing LaPorte and Bayshore Texas, she competed and won the opportunity to advance to the Miss Texas Contest and used her scholarship to attend Texas A&M University as a behavioral science major. Molly completed her studies at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

In 1979 Molly married Jimmie (Chip) Maness and they raised their three beautiful children Mary Kathryn (Katy) Maness-Kerbow, Candace Lauren Winton (Ronny), and Jimmie (Ryan) Maness in Deer Park, Texas. Molly took great delight in her grandchildren, Katy's daughter Emily Nicole Cotton and son Easton James Kerbow, and Candace's son Logan Ethington. She planned many trips for the family over the years, most recently a June trip to Nashville, Tennessee for a birthday celebration.

Molly became involved with government service working for Pct. 2 Commissioner Jim Fonteno as a senior program coordinator. In 1988 she felt called to public office and she ran a true grass roots campaign as a Democrat for the position of Pct. 8 Justice of the Peace. Her opponent was the incumbent judge, a Republican attorney, and she won by 100 votes out of 70,000 cast. She changed parties to Republican shortly thereafter and was unopposed throughout her 20-year run as JP. Her passion was work in truancy and juvenile issues, and she balanced law with humor to impact thousands of lives.

While raising a family and serving as Judge, Molly made time to serve on boards of most every civic organization in the community. Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, Deer Park Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club as a Paul Harris Fellow, the YMCA, The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, the Pasadena and Deer Park Education Foundations, Camp H-Town. Additionally, she taught Judges across the state of Texas as well as emceed and sang at the Hometown Opry.

Molly retired from the political arena in 2008 and entered her next phase in life as a Funeral Director. This too was a calling where she excelled, and she ministered to people and families in their time of greatest need, bringing sustaining comfort and support during life's most difficult challenge.

In 2014 Molly married Carroll Smith and expanded her family to include his two sons W.C. and Brandon Smith, along with their wives Catherine and Erin, and their children Ashley and Lauren (W.C.) and Charlotte, Ethan, and Julia (Brandon). Their blended family includes five children and eight grandchildren.

A proud claim of Molly's was the privilege of having been baptized in the River Jordan in Israel some years ago. It was one of many memorable trips she enjoyed in her lifetime. Molly was always the one who lit up a room when she entered it, and she sang and danced her way through life leaving an impression all who crossed her path. Molly's extinguished light has dimmed our world, but her larger-than-life presence ensures she will live on in our hearts and memories.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and celebrate memories of Molly during a visitation from 5pm until 8pm in the evening of Friday, July 25th at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. A funeral service is to be conducted at 11am on Saturday, July 26th in the Chapel at Pasadena First Baptist Church, 7500 Fairmont Parkway in Pasadena, Texas.