82R27140 MDM-D
By: Hughes H.C.R. No. 157
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, A golden wedding anniversary signifies a love that
has stood the test of time, and five decades after exchanging their
vows of matrimony, Bill and Marlena Terry are being honored by a
host of family and friends at a party on May 29, 2011, in Longview;
and
WHEREAS, The son of Thomas Morrell Terry and Zora Esther
Eppler Terry, William Eppler Terry was born and raised in Cisco,
while the former Marlena Morine Raley Smith was born in Veribest and
raised in Junction, the daughter of James "Cot" Olan Raley and
Wilhelmina Alma Marie Spieker Raley; the pair met at the First
Methodist Church in Bronte, where they attended with their spouses
and children, and their families shared many happy times together
at church and scouting activities; life took a difficult turn when
their spouses became seriously ill, and during that challenging
time they each stood steadfastly by their mates, demonstrating a
loyalty that engendered a deep respect in one another; and
WHEREAS, After the death of her husband, Marlena Smith spent
time with a group of widows known as the "seven angels," and Mr.
Terry recalls that his future wife was the prettiest of them all; to
provide for her family, she went to work in Bronte at Henry's Fast
Food and Grocery, from which Mr. Terry claims he "rescued" her; he
began stopping by regularly to visit with her on her coffee breaks,
and in late 1960 the couple went on their first date, an excursion
to San Angelo; most of their dates, however, consisted of their
driving around together on his night shift, while he checked wells;
and
WHEREAS, The couple soon fell in love, and on May 29, 1961,
they were joined in marriage in a ceremony officiated by A. Lin
Leoffler at the First Methodist Church in Bronte; their attendants
included the bride's friend, Jean Sheppard, as maid of honor and the
groom's cousin, Glen Campbell, as best man; and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Terry and their blended family moved to
Anson after their wedding and relocated to White Oak four years
later; their children are Stephen Dennis Terry and his wife, Susan,
James Huey Smith and his wife, Joanne, Patricia Ann Smith Owens and
her husband, Raymond, Gary Don Smith and his wife, Joy, Richard
Wayne Smith and his wife, Sharon, Barbara Ruth Smith Boone, Mollie
Jeanette Smith Upton and her husband, Paul, and the late Allen
Michael Terry; through the years, Bill and Marlena Terry have
become grandparents 19 times over, to Danny, Joey, Rusty, Billy
Bob, and Cody Terry, Homer, Jason, and Miranda Owens, Mandy Munoz,
Krystal, Kelli, E. J., Jeb, and Neely Smith, Dustin, Dexter, and
Dakota Upton, Leslie Wilhelm, and the late James Huey Smith, Jr.;
their treasured family has also grown to include 24
great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Now retired, Mr. Terry from ExxonMobil and Mrs.
Terry from Abercrombie Printing Company, the couple are valued
congregants of White Oak United Methodist Church and former
volunteers with Meals on Wheels; Mrs. Terry is a longtime member of
the Order of the Eastern Star, and Mr. Terry is a 32nd degree Mason,
a U.S. Navy veteran, and a Purple Heart recipient who gives talks to
schoolchildren about his wartime experience at Pearl Harbor, a
subject about which he has been interviewed by newspaper and
television reporters; and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Terry have enjoyed five decades of
abiding love and affection for one another, and they are among an
exceptional group of men and women who can claim such a lasting
commitment; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby congratulate Bill and Marlena Terry on the occasion of their
golden wedding anniversary and extend to them sincere best wishes
for continued happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the couple as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives and Senate.