| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 712 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Ester |
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| 6 | 6 | | Kay "Mimmy" Phillips of Garland, who passed away on February 25, |
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| 7 | 7 | | 2009, at the age of 65; and |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, The daughter of Robert Preston and Mary J. Bryan, |
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| 9 | 9 | | the former Ester Kay Bryan was born on October 2, 1943, in Dallas, |
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| 10 | 10 | | and she grew up in a cheerful home with her four siblings; she went |
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| 11 | 11 | | on to meet Steve R. Phillips, and they were united in marriage in |
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| 12 | 12 | | 1961, with her father, a Baptist pastor, performing the ceremony; |
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| 13 | 13 | | the couple soon relocated to California, where they became the |
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| 14 | 14 | | parents of a son, Steven Scott, and a daughter, Tamara Kay; and |
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| 15 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips later returned to the Lone |
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| 16 | 16 | | Star State, and they welcomed their son, John Mark, in 1967, while |
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| 17 | 17 | | they were residing in San Antonio; when Mrs. Phillips discovered |
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| 18 | 18 | | that John Mark had been born deaf, she immediately learned sign |
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| 19 | 19 | | language, and it was she who taught the other members of her family |
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| 20 | 20 | | how to communicate via signs with John Mark; she later led songs in |
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| 21 | 21 | | sign language at Calvary Baptist Church, where she also taught |
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| 22 | 22 | | first grade Sunday school for 30 years; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, A strong supporter of the Republican Party, |
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| 24 | 24 | | Mrs. Phillips participated in numerous precinct and senatorial |
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| 25 | 25 | | conventions; she knocked on doors, made countless phone calls, and |
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| 26 | 26 | | hung signs in behalf of Republican candidates at the local, state, |
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| 27 | 27 | | and national levels; moreover, she was an active member of Golden |
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| 28 | 28 | | Corridor Republican Women, and she was highly regarded by the group |
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| 29 | 29 | | for devoting her time and talents as its hospitality chair; |
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| 30 | 30 | | Mrs. Phillips further demonstrated her patriotism by hosting a |
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| 31 | 31 | | neighborhood Fourth of July parade, through which her fellow |
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| 32 | 32 | | residents came to appreciate her knack for entertaining; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, A woman of strong faith and character, Mrs. Phillips |
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| 34 | 34 | | was known for serving others selflessly and for sharing her |
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| 35 | 35 | | positive attitude, her words of encouragement, and her bright smile |
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| 36 | 36 | | with everyone she met; in addition to her husband and three |
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| 37 | 37 | | children, Mrs. Phillips delighted in the company of her 13 |
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| 38 | 38 | | grandchildren, and she enjoyed taking them on summer vacations and |
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| 39 | 39 | | celebrating their birthdays; and |
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| 40 | 40 | | WHEREAS, A dedicated volunteer and a beloved matriarch, Kay |
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| 41 | 41 | | Phillips enhanced the lives of her relatives, friends, and |
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| 42 | 42 | | neighbors with her caring nature, and her memory will forever be |
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| 43 | 43 | | treasured in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know |
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| 44 | 44 | | her; now, therefore, be it |
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| 45 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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| 46 | 46 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ester Kay Phillips and |
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| 47 | 47 | | extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her husband |
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| 48 | 48 | | of 47 years, Steve R. Phillips; to her sons, Steven Scott Phillips |
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| 49 | 49 | | and his wife, Diane, and John Mark Phillips and his wife, Saunia; to |
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| 50 | 50 | | her daughter, Tamara Kay McElwain, and her husband, Tom; to her |
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| 51 | 51 | | grandchildren, Amber Cannon-Edwards and her husband, Matt, |
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| 52 | 52 | | Ashleigh, Allison, and Amy McElwain, and Zachary, Danielle, Hope, |
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| 53 | 53 | | Alyssa, Brendan, Shane, Adrienne, Bethany, and Jason Phillips; to |
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| 54 | 54 | | her sisters, Sue Alexander and her husband, Deaun, and Carol |
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| 55 | 55 | | Whitley; to her brothers, Paul Bryan and his wife, Pat, and David |
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| 56 | 56 | | Bryan and his wife, Carol; and to her other relatives and friends; |
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| 57 | 57 | | and, be it further |
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| 58 | 58 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 59 | 59 | | prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 60 | 60 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ester Kay |
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| 61 | 61 | | Phillips. |
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| 62 | 62 | | Laubenberg |
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| 63 | 63 | | ______________________________ |
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| 64 | 64 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 65 | 65 | | I certify that H.R. No. 712 was unanimously adopted by a |
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| 66 | 66 | | rising vote of the House on March 26, 2009. |
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| 67 | 67 | | ______________________________ |
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| 68 | 68 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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