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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The 100th birthday of an esteemed Texan is indeed |
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| 6 | 7 | | cause for celebration, and Jean Wilson Tunnell of Van is marking |
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| 7 | 8 | | this significant milestone in her life on June 2, 2015; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born in Denison in 1915, the former Jean Wilson is |
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| 9 | 10 | | the daughter of John and Helen Wilson; growing up on the family farm |
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| 10 | 11 | | near Ben Wheeler in Van Zandt County, she was active in 4-H and |
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| 11 | 12 | | advanced to state competition several times; as a teenager, she |
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| 12 | 13 | | rode her horse to Van High School, where she graduated as |
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| 13 | 14 | | valedictorian; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, She worked her way through Trinity University and |
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| 15 | 16 | | went on to complete her master's degree at East Texas State Teachers |
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| 16 | 17 | | College; she taught in Colfax, Ben Wheeler, and Union Hill, and in |
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| 17 | 18 | | 1942, she married Forrest Truman Tunnell; they settled in Dallas, |
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| 18 | 19 | | where she was employed for several years as a caseworker for |
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| 19 | 20 | | government benefit programs until the birth of a daughter, Joan, |
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| 20 | 21 | | and then a son, Forrest; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, After the death of Mrs. Tunnell's father, her |
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| 22 | 23 | | husband bought out the other heirs to her family's ranch, and they |
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| 23 | 24 | | moved to Van in 1959; she returned to teaching three years later and |
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| 24 | 25 | | spent a dozen happy years developing innovative programs for |
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| 25 | 26 | | English students at Van High School; moreover, she coached |
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| 26 | 27 | | successful UIL contestants in spelling and essay writing and |
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| 27 | 28 | | chaperoned band members to out-of-town performances; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Jean Tunnell retired following the untimely passing |
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| 29 | 30 | | of Mr. Tunnell in 1974, but she continued to benefit her community |
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| 30 | 31 | | as a volunteer and as a member of the Van ISD school board; she also |
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| 31 | 32 | | taught a Sunday school class until she was 91; devoted to her |
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| 32 | 33 | | grandchildren, Rachel, Ellen, and Daniel Driver and Lauren and |
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| 33 | 34 | | Wesley Tunnell, she provided funds for their college educations and |
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| 34 | 35 | | set an example of independence and adventure by traveling to every |
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| 35 | 36 | | continent except Antarctica; in more recent years, she has known |
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| 36 | 37 | | the joy of welcoming nine great-grandchildren; and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, This cherished matriarch still resides in her |
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| 38 | 39 | | longtime home, which she shares with her granddaughter Ellen |
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| 39 | 40 | | Thompson and her three children; she keeps busy cooking, cheering |
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| 40 | 41 | | for the Cowboys and Mavericks, completing two daily crossword |
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| 41 | 42 | | puzzles, reading the editorial pages, and engaging in political |
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| 42 | 43 | | discussions; and |
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| 43 | 44 | | WHEREAS, A source of tremendous wisdom and inspiration, Jean |
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| 44 | 45 | | Tunnell has gracefully reached the century mark, and she continues |
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| 45 | 46 | | to enrich the lives of all who are fortunate enough to know her; |
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| 46 | 47 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 48 | 49 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Jean Wilson Tunnell on the occasion |
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| 49 | 50 | | of her 100th birthday and extend to her sincere best wishes for |
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| 50 | 51 | | continued happiness; and, be it further |
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| 51 | 52 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 52 | 53 | | prepared for Mrs. Tunnell as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 53 | 54 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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