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| 3 | 4 | | |
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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 Oleta Smith of Dumas is marking this |
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| 7 | 8 | | momentous milestone in her life on June 20, 2017; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born to Edwin and Elizabeth Thornton in 1917, on a |
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| 9 | 10 | | farm outside of Lockney, the former Oleta Thornton graduated from |
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| 10 | 11 | | high school in 1935 and married her sweetheart, Ben Smith, the |
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| 11 | 12 | | following year; they became the proud parents of a daughter, |
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| 12 | 13 | | Dorotha Evylena, and a son, James Warren; and |
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| 13 | 14 | | WHEREAS, The Smiths farmed in Floyd County before acquiring a |
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| 14 | 15 | | gasoline distributorship in Hart; during Mr. Smith's career in the |
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| 15 | 16 | | petroleum industry, they lived in a number of different Texas |
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| 16 | 17 | | communities, including Dumas and Texas City, as well as in New |
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| 17 | 18 | | Mexico and Utah; the couple shared a fulfilling relationship of |
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| 18 | 19 | | more than 51 years before Mr. Smith's passing; and |
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| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Sustained by a deep faith, Mrs. Smith served as a |
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| 20 | 21 | | church secretary and Sunday school teacher; she also sang in the |
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| 21 | 22 | | choir and gave generously of her time and talents to many women's |
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| 22 | 23 | | mission groups; a charter member of the Utah Idaho Southern Baptist |
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| 23 | 24 | | Convention, she was a state officer of the WMU organization; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Mrs. Smith is thought to be the oldest Gold Star |
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| 25 | 26 | | Mother in Texas; in honor of her son, who was killed in action |
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| 26 | 27 | | during the Vietnam War, she represented the families of the fallen |
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| 27 | 28 | | at both the groundbreaking for the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans |
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| 28 | 29 | | Memorial and the monument's dedication; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Devoted to her family, Mrs. Smith enjoys spending |
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| 30 | 31 | | time with her daughter and son-in-law, Dick Waldren, her |
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| 31 | 32 | | grandchildren, Debra and David, and her great-grandchildren, Ben |
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| 32 | 33 | | and Hadley; she was recently honored as the oldest volunteer at the |
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| 33 | 34 | | Moore County Hospital District gift shop, and in her free time, she |
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| 34 | 35 | | enjoys reading, playing cards and dominoes, and watching the Texas |
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| 35 | 36 | | Rangers and Dallas Cowboys on television; and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, Oleta Smith has met life's challenges with |
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| 37 | 38 | | resilience and determination, and she is a source of tremendous |
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| 38 | 39 | | inspiration to all who are fortunate enough to know her; now, |
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| 39 | 40 | | therefore, be it |
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| 40 | 41 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 41 | 42 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Oleta Smith on the joyous occasion |
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| 42 | 43 | | of her 100th birthday and recognize her as a Texas Treasure; and, be |
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| 43 | 44 | | it further |
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| 44 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 45 | 46 | | prepared for Mrs. Smith as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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| 46 | 47 | | House of Representatives. |
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