Katherine "Kitty" Henley

Katherine Smith-Henley passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 5, 2025, after a long struggle with dementia.

Katherine, or Kitty to her friends, was born in Galveston, Texas in September of 1940 and was a fourth generation Galvestonian (BOI). She is the daughter of Charles and Loraine Solie-Smith. After graduating from La Marque High School, she married Tommy Henley of Texas City. Following her husband's service in the U.S. Army, the two moved to Pearland where they built a home and raised their two children. Kitty continued to live in the home following her husband's untimely death in 1985.

Kitty was a life-long learner. She graduated from the University of Houston Clear Lake with a BS/BBA in Business and Economics. She returned to UHCL a little later in life to secure a M.A. in Human Resource Management and a M.S. in Instructional Technology.

Kitty enjoyed a rewarding career in Human Resource. She began working with NASA at the Johnson Space Center before being recruited by Abbott Labs. She then moved on to the Woman's Hospital of Texas and served as the Director of Human Resources. She always remarked about her time at Woman's and all the wonderful people she got to meet. From custodians to food service workers, accountants and accounts payable, to the nurses, doctors, and other staff, Kitty seemed to know them all and genuinely cared for all the employees. Following her retirement from Woman's, she was recruited by UTMB Health Care Services to serve as Assistant Director and then Director of Human Resources. She loved being back on the island and enjoyed the new challenges.

Kitty has served as a board member of the Alzheimer Foundation, Sheltering Arms, the American Heart Foundation and the Woman's Center of Harris and Brazoria counties. Some of her fondest memories were with her sorority sisters in Alpha Epsilon Kappa, playing bridge with her life-long friends, and traveling with her best friend Lissa Evans. But her greatest joy were her two children, and her five grand-children. She worked hard to help her children- especially in terms of education. But her grandchildren were her favorites! She loved taking the young-ones out to a movie, or on a dinner date, or just hanging out at her home. She had a gentle hand as she spent time with these "grand" women and help guide them through life's choices. In her later years, Kitty would beam with joy when her great-grand babies came to visit.

Kitty is survived by her sister Barbara Cook; daughter Chandra Henley; son Trent Henley and wife Sheridan; grandchildren Morgan Yarberry, Madison Barras, Madelayne Henley, Lorraine Henley, and Meredith Hunt; along with numerous relatives and friends including three great grandchildren- Verlin, Veylin, and Walter.

Kitty always had a love for life. She enjoyed traveling and meeting new people. She hosted high school exchange students from Europe and Asia. Her latest passion was to track down her birth mother and father. She was excited to learn about the Kruegers and another family to share her love. She was an avid traveler and an animal lover. If you knew Kitty, please share a story about her to someone. The family requests, with gratitude, that memorial offerings be directed to the American Heart Association, the Woman's Center of Brazoria County, the Alzheimer Foundation, or your local animal shelter.