Carolyn Managan

1949 - 2022

Carolyn Managan
10/13/1949 - 10/27/2022
Carolyn Anne Smith Managan of Houston, Texas, passed away on October 27, 2022, at the age of 73, surrounded by her family after a three-year battle against the ravages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Carolyn lived a life of excellence in everything she did. Carolyn grew up in Arkansas City, Kansas, graduating as valedictorian of Arkansas City High School in 1967. She then attended Rice University in Houston, graduating with her Bachelor of Arts as Summa Cum Laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa; she later earned a Master of Education from the University of Houston.
Her career goal was always to be a high school math teacher. She started her career at Cypress-Fairbanks High School for 8 years before taking a hiatus for 8 years to begin our family. For many years Carolyn participated in the Rice University summer program for high school students where she mentored student teachers, taught several math classes, and earned the master teacher certification. When both girls entered elementary school, Carolyn joined the faculty of Episcopal High School in Bellaire, TX, where she served for the next 27 years. She received numerous outstanding teacher awards, served several years as math department head, and generally was known as the go-to math person for teachers and students alike. During her teaching hiatus and later after retirement, she was sought after as a math tutor.
Music was an important thread throughout her life. While growing up, the Smith children were guided in musical pursuits by their mother, a Juilliard School graduate. Carolyn achieved prominence in both school and church musical functions and performed in several all-state orchestra and choir events. While at Rice she played in the orchestra and participated in a three-week concert tour in Germany. After retirement she renewed her viola skills taking private lessons and playing in a string quintet and several community orchestras including St. Thomas University until the symptoms of what turned out to be ALS made playing too difficult. Continuing the legacy of music instruction, she first provided her daughters with piano and violin lessons and then started the granddaughters on their musical journeys with pianos and lessons.
Carolyn cherished the role of grandmother. She was with her daughters at the birth of each of the four grandchildren and she closely followed and nurtured each one as they have grown and developed. She enjoyed knitting baby blankets and shopping for clothes for them all. Even while she fought the progression of ALS, she continued her love, encouragement and delight with Facetime and many visits.
In addition to family and career, Carolyn volunteered at her church and community. At Covenant Church, she was treasurer for several years and led resettlement activities for two refugee families during the 1970's and 80's. She sang in the choir for many years. She volunteered as a room-mother and computer aide during the girls' pre-school and elementary years and supported her daughters' extracurricular activities including spelling bees, debate, and competitive softball. Carolyn was active in a local chapter of P.E.O., a philanthropic women's organization promoting education, of which her mother and cousin were also members.
Carolyn loved Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. After many vacations there, her parents purchased a cabin with a marvelous view of Longs Peak. She even worked one summer during college in the bakery at the YMCA of the Rockies (family and friends benefitted in future years from those skills!). Carolyn delighted in bringing our growing family there each summer to hike the trails, play in the rocks at the cabin, and cherish the wildlife and scenery. She spent many summer weeks there after retirement until ALS struck.
Carolyn was born on October 13, 1949, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the second child of the late Dr. Newton C. Smith, MD, and Mary Ellen Bright Smith. She was preceded in death by her older sister, Kathryn Smith Bowers. Carolyn is survived by her husband of 50 years, Michael H. Managan, by her daughters Elizabeth Anne Managan and husband Christopher J. Elsasser of Silver Spring, Maryland, and Michelle Anne Managan Cameron and husband Matthew L. Cameron of Charlotte, North Carolina, and four granddaughters: Audrey and Madeleine Elsasser, and Ainsley and Teagan Cameron. She is also survived by her brother, Norman N. Smith of Estes Park, Colorado and brother-in-law, David Bowers of Longmont, Colorado.
Carolyn's life will be celebrated at a memorial service on Monday, November 28, 2022 at 3:00 pm at Covenant Baptist Church, 4949 Caroline, Houston, TX 77004 with a reception afterwards. See more information regarding live streaming of the service on the Covenant website: www.covenanthouston.org/In-Memoriam. Remembrances may be submitted at Miller Funeral Services & cremation Society of Texas website" www.millerfuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Carolyn's name to the ALS Association at www.alstexas.org/donate or to Covenant Church at www.covenanthouston.org/giving