Unfortunately, it appears Google has stopped allowing/supporting this functionality.
https://support.google.com/mail/forum/AAAAK7un8RUwMoOD53wBzs/?hl=en
My apologies for not updating this post.
A couple options to text from your the pc include "Text Now", which can be used on the PC and cell phone and gives user a new number to use. I prefer to keep my own number, so there is another option.
Which is,
Mighty Text, which uses our existing number and synchronizes messaging between our mobile phone and the a PC interface. We can send and receive messages on the PC and phone. I used this one extensively for work managing field service teams. It has a lot of good functionality for managing texts and related media.
Download info here,
https://mightytext.net/
Both are free and fully functional. I believe both have paid versions also, but I never had to use them. I understand It is inconvenient to have to leave Gmail if the desire is to avoid doing so. However, these are the best options I found.
I did this for my Mom. Love ya mom. We really couldn't find a good, slow step by step so I hope this does it. Not the clearest video but I think it should work.
