H.R. No. 1754
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the
passing of Mary Ellen Murphy Hall of Rockwall on August 27, 2008, at
the age of 83; and
WHEREAS, The daughter of Jahalon Murphy and Argo Murphy
Henry, Mary Ellen Murphy was born in Kemp on January 15, 1925; she
graduated with honors from Kaufman High School, and she married
Ralph Hall on November 14, 1944, in Pensacola, Florida, where Mr.
Hall was serving as a lieutenant in the United States Navy; and
WHEREAS, The couple made their first home in Daytona Beach,
but returned to Texas after World War II and raised their three sons
in Rockwall; a devoted wife and mother, Mrs. Hall helped her
children do their homework every day and provided loving support to
her husband through the years as he served as a county judge, state
senator, and 14-term U.S. congressman; and
WHEREAS, After her youngest child entered grade school, Mrs.
Hall began commuting to East Texas State University to earn her
college diploma; although she sometimes studied until well after
midnight and then rose early in the morning to care for her family,
she managed to complete her bachelor's degree with honors in just
3-1/2 years, with a double major in speech and drama; and
WHEREAS, This elegant and refined Texan traveled the world
with her husband and enjoyed annual vacations in Daytona Beach, but
home remained her favorite place of all, and caring for her
grandchildren was one of her greatest delights; active in her
community, she was a trustee of the Rockwall Independent School
District for five years, serving twice as vice president, and a
valued member of First United Methodist Church, where she taught
its Friendship Class for many years; in addition, she was a group
leader for Bible Study Fellowship, an international group of
Biblical scholars; her other associations included the Texas Ladies
Senate Club in Austin and the Congressional Wives Club in
Washington, D.C., and she was an honorary member of Delta Kappa
Gamma, the international honorary society for women in education;
and
WHEREAS, Mary Ellen Hall is deeply missed, but the memory of
her graciousness, her generosity, and her strength of character
remains to comfort and inspire all those who were privileged to know
her; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Mary Ellen Hall and
extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her
husband, U.S. Representative Ralph Hall; to her sons, Hamp Hall and
his wife, Jody, Brett Hall and his wife, Karen, and Blake Hall and
his wife, Catherine; to her grandchildren, Jay, Sarah, and Amanda
Hall, Crystal Tucker, and Steven Lule; to her aunt, Verna Randall;
to her sister-in-law, Rosemary Hall Scott; to her brother-in-law,
Hugh O. Hall and his wife, Doris; to her nephew, Dr. Victor Scott,
his wife, Vicki, and their children, Haley and Alexander; to her
cousin, Wilburn Pritchard; and to her other relatives and friends;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Mary Ellen
Hall.
Laubenberg
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1754 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 11, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House