84R12200 BK-D
By: Villalba H.R. No. 809
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A life distinguished by meaningful service drew to a
close when Janet Palmquist Patterson of Dallas passed away on
January 27, 2015, at the age of 71; and
WHEREAS, Born on May 21, 1943, the former Janet Palmquist
attended high school in Sleepy Hollow, New York, before continuing
her education at Beloit College, where she lettered in swimming,
and earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska in
1965; she married her high school sweetheart, Jay Patterson, with
whom she went on to enjoy five decades of marriage; she worked as a
teacher in Dallas to support him as he studied law, and he
ultimately became a state district judge; she subsequently devoted
herself full-time to her home and family, which grew to include a
daughter, Betsy, and a son, Jamie; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Patterson later worked as a political
consultant, and she was a driving force in a multitude of Republican
organizations; a longtime member of the Texas Federation of
Republican Women, she held numerous leadership positions within the
organization, and during her term as president, she came up with the
idea of wearing red jackets when members visited the State Capitol
for their legislative day; other groups that benefited from her
involvement were the Lake Highlands and the Town East Republican
Women's Clubs and the Dallas County Council of Republican Women,
and she served as a regional chair and delegate to the Dallas County
Republican Party; and
WHEREAS, Jan Patterson's public-spiritedness also led her to
volunteer her time with the City of Dallas Plan Commission, the City
of Dallas Health and Human Services Commission, and the Lake
Highlands Women's League; her leadership was acknowledged at the
state level with back-to-back appointments by Governors Bill
Clements and George W. Bush to the Texas Board on Aging, which she
also served as chair; additionally, she accepted gubernatorial
appointments to serve as a Texas delegate to the White House
Conference on Families in 1980 and the White House Conference on
Aging in 1995; and
WHEREAS, Even as she battled illness near the end of her life,
Mrs. Patterson never lost her passion for helping others; she
belonged to the Order of the Daughters of the King at St. John's
Episcopal Church, through which she comforted and ministered to
other congregants and neighbors in Lake Highlands; known for her
warm heart, abiding faith, and ever-present smile, she freely
expressed affection for her family and friends that was returned
fully in kind, and she particularly cherished her role as "nanny" to
her precious grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Although the passing of Jan Patterson brings great
sorrow, her graceful and generous spirit will remain a lasting
source of inspiration to all those who were fortunate enough to know
her; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Janet Palmquist
Patterson and extend sincere condolences to the members of her
family: to her husband, Jay Patterson; to her children, Betsy
Gustafson and her husband, Tory, and Jamie Patterson and his wife,
Julie; to her grandchildren, Cole and Claire Gustafson and McCoy
and Mitchell Patterson; to her siblings, Bill Patterson and his
wife, Chris, Dave Patterson and his wife, Cynthia, Scott Patterson,
Susan Bussey and her husband, Tom, Martha Hardebeck and her
husband, Tom, Megan Standing, Jim Cookman and his wife, Adlita,
Elizabeth Pletcher and her husband, Steven, and Millie Frick and
her husband, Bill; and to the other relatives and many friends who
mourn the loss of this esteemed woman; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jan
Patterson.