H.R. No. 448
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Memories of a life well lived remain to comfort the
many loved ones and friends of Sam Carl Guess of Houston, who passed
away on February 1, 2017, at the age of 53; and
WHEREAS, A native of the Bayou City, Sam Guess was born on
February 16, 1963, to John and Freddie Johnson Guess; from an early
age, he recognized that his calling was in the family funeral
business, and he went on to become the first member of his
generation to lead Johnson Funeral Home when he took over as chief
operating officer in 1985; in addition to drawing on the advice and
experience of previous managers, he earned a business degree from
Xavier University in New Orleans and completed internships at two
other mortuaries; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Guess comforted thousands of families during
his more than three decades as a funeral director and business
manager; he was also a significant voice in his industry as a member
of the Houston Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association, the
Houston and National Funeral Directors and Morticians
Associations, and the Independent Funeral Directors Association of
Texas, and he served as board president of the Fred C. Johnson
Foundation, which to date has raised over $150,000 in funds for
scholarships; and
WHEREAS, This caring gentleman was the loving husband of
Susan Harvey Guess, his wife of 24 years, and the proud father of
two sons, Sam Elliott and Stephen; admired for his sparkling sense
of humor, he cultivated a wide circle of friends from around the
country and enjoyed playing golf, skiing, and visiting Chicago and
New York City; deeply devoted to his faith, he was an active member
of Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ; and
WHEREAS, Sam Guess was a kind, generous, and hardworking man
who accomplished much and touched the lives of countless people
along the way, and he leaves behind a legacy that will continue to
inspire all those who had the good fortune to know him; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Sam Carl Guess and
extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife,
Susan Harvey Guess; to his sons, Sam Elliott and Stephen Guess; and
to his other relatives and 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 Sam Guess.
Dutton
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 448 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 2, 2017.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House