H.R. No. 3177
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A caring and purposeful life drew to a close with the
passing of Kenneth Eugene Blackburn of Celina on April 13, 2015, at
the age of 72; and
WHEREAS, Born to Randall and Ruth Blackburn on September 21,
1942, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Ken Blackburn attended William
Penn High School, where he took part in school plays and excelled at
football, baseball, and basketball; he went on to play
semiprofessional football and enjoyed a successful career in the
electrical industry; as a sales manager, he traveled widely and
lived in numerous states before finally settling down in Celina;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Blackburn married his high school sweetheart,
the former Shirley Estright, on October 29, 1960, and the couple
became the proud parents of four daughters, Lorraine, Charlotte,
Jeannette, and Yvonne, and a son, Joseph; as the years passed, they
took great delight in welcoming to their family 10 grandchildren,
Brett, Nicole, Renee, Tyler, Shaun, Erika, Courtney, Yvonne, Kenny,
and Timothy, and 5 great-grandchildren, Tinsley, Caleb, Major,
Colten, and Graham; and
WHEREAS, An active and respected member of his community,
Mr. Blackburn served as the sergeant at arms of the Preston Trails
Rotary Club, and he was a valued congregant of Bethel Baptist Church
in Celina; he had previously dedicated his time and talents to
AMBUCS and the Harrisburg Boys & Girls Club while living in
Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Beloved for his exceptional loyalty, his vibrant
smile, and his warm and generous nature, Ken Blackburn lived life to
the fullest, and those who were privileged to share in his love and
affection will forever hold him close in their hearts; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ken Blackburn and
extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife of
54 years, Shirley Blackburn; to his daughters, Lorraine Ehret,
Charlotte Ruffle and her husband, Mike, and Jeannette Ezell and her
husband, Sherman; to his grandchildren, Brett Ehret and his wife,
Britney, Nicole Martin and her husband, Dane, Renee Jones and her
husband, Dirik, Shaun Ehret, Tyler and Erika Ruffle, and Courtney,
Yvonne, and Kenny Ezell; to his great-grandchildren, Tinsley Ehret,
Caleb and Colten Martin, and Major and Graham Jones; to his
siblings, George Blackburn and his wife, Betty, Toni Graves and her
husband, Eric, Sandy Goss, and Steven Blackburn and his wife, Olga;
and to his other relatives and many friends; 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 Kenneth
Eugene Blackburn.
Sanford
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 3177 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 30, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House