Essie Maude Espinosa, 75, of Winnie, died Monday, July 25, 2016. She was born on April 28, 1941, in Rising Star, Texas, to Tommye McGuire and Bige Heairren.

She graduated from Howard Payne University with a major in math and was one of the top students in the university. Essie was an educator for forty-nine years. She was a longtime math teacher at East Chambers High School and was known as “Mrs. Essie.” During her time as a math teacher, Mrs. Essie sponsored many clubs and activities such as, drill team, yearbook, student council, UIL number sense, and many others. Until just a few months ago, she continued to tutor students in math.

Survivors include her husband of fifty-one years, Raul Espinosa of Winnie; daughter, Laura Dana Mann and her husband, Ricky, of Pearland; grandson, Derek Hoffpauir and his wife, Zoe, of Dickinson; granddaughters, Dara and Darla Hoffpauir, both of Pearland; sister, JoAnn Linney and her husband, Bud, of Rising Star, Texas; step-grandchildren, Chris Mann of Fort Worth, Tyler Mann of Lubbock, and Kaycee Mann of Corinth; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Rosary will be recited at 5:00 p.m., with a gathering of Mrs. Espinosa’s family and friends to follow until 8:00 p.m., Friday, July 29, 2016, at Broussard’s, 134 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 30, 2016, at St. Louis Catholic Church, 315 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie, with her interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery, Winnie.

In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Espinosa’s family requests that donations be sent to “Mrs. Essie’s Scholarship Fund”, c/o East Chambers County Bank, PO Box 298, Winnie, Texas 77665.