84R4864 RMA-D
By: Flynn H.R. No. 1527
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the
passing of Roy DeWitt Deen of Wills Point on December 14, 2014, at
the age of 102; and
WHEREAS, Born on November 24, 1912, DeWitt Deen was the
second child of John and Duron Deen; he graduated from Wills Point
High School in 1931 and subsequently moved to Fort Worth, where he
worked as a grocery clerk at his uncle's store; he later returned to
Wills Point and was employed as a dump truck operator for a local
Works Progress Administration project; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Deen went on to pursue his calling as an
entrepreneur and branched out into other endeavors; he enjoyed a
fulfilling career in agriculture, growing cotton and grain and
tending cattle, and he was also a land developer and the owner of a
marina, a grocery store, and a water company; and
WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Deen served on the
boards of the Van Zandt County Farm Bureau, the Van Zandt County
Appraisal District, and the Kaufman-Van Zandt-Rockwall Soil and
Water Conservation District; he further distinguished himself as a
founding member of the Wills Point Rodeo Club and as a member of the
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, and he was a
valued congregant of the First Baptist Church in Wills Point for
more than 90 years; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Deen shared nearly six decades of marriage with
his wife, the former Mary Sue Hall, until her passing in 2001; he
was the proud father of six children, Susie, Donna, David, Roy,
Tommy, and Eddie, and over the ensuing years, he also had the
pleasure of seeing his family grow to include three additional
generations; and
WHEREAS, Although DeWitt Deen will be deeply missed,
cherished memories of time spent in his company will long endure in
the hearts of his family and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Roy DeWitt Deen and
extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his
daughters, Susie Hagler and Donna Gunter and her husband, Sammy; to
his sons, David Deen, Roy Deen and his wife, Kelly, Tommy Deen and
his wife, Jeanne, and Eddie Deen and his wife, Allison; to his
brothers, Billy Deen and Ted Deen and his wife, Nancy; to his
grandchildren, Kim, Krisann, Sammi, Dustin, Chad, Brent, Raleigh,
Jana, Clay, Abigail, Eli, and Edison; to his step-grandchildren,
Sidney, Dan, and Shannon; to his 8 great-grandchildren, 10
step-great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-granddaughters; and to
his other loved ones; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of DeWitt
Deen.