85S12450 KSM-D
By: Thierry H.R. No. 231
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The family and friends of Kristi Marie
Couvillon-Wise of Austin suffered an immeasurable loss with her
untimely passing on October 1, 2010, at the age of 36; and
WHEREAS, The daughter of Donna and Paul Kreuzer and Edward
Couvillon, the former Kristi Couvillon was born in Texas City on
September 20, 1974; after graduating from Clements High School, she
earned her bachelor's degree at Trinity University and went on to
receive a master's degree in social work as well as a doctor of
jurisprudence with honors from The University of Texas at Austin;
in 2006, she married John Wise, and the couple became the proud
parents of a beloved baby girl, Vivienne Grace; and
WHEREAS, From an early age, Ms. Couvillon-Wise demonstrated
a strong sense of compassion that ultimately led her to devote her
life to helping others, first as a special education teacher and
later as a social worker for people living with HIV/AIDS, mental
illness, and drug addiction, as well as for the homeless; during her
distinguished career as an attorney, she represented indigent
clients on death row through a fellowship with the Texas Defender
Service, and she was also briefly employed in the Travis County
Attorney's Office before opening her own criminal defense practice;
named to the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Board of
Directors, she further contributed to her professional community as
president of Texas Law Fellowships and as manuscript editor for the
Texas Journal of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights; and
WHEREAS, In her free time, Ms. Couvillon-Wise enjoyed
traveling, running, listening to music of all genres, and spending
time in nature, and she also found great joy in caring for animals;
and
WHEREAS, Ms. Couvillon-Wise took her own life five months
after the birth of her daughter, and the tragic circumstances of her
death have since led to the founding of the Pregnancy and Postpartum
Health Alliance of Texas, which was established in her honor, and
the creation of the 2nd Postpartum Support International Traveling
Memory Quilt; and
WHEREAS, Kristi Couvillon-Wise made a positive difference in
countless lives, both through the love and kindness she shared with
her family and friends and through the work she did to help those in
need, and she will forever hold a treasured place in the hearts of
all who knew and loved her; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory
of Kristi Couvillon-Wise and extend sincere condolences to her
loved ones; 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 Kristi
Couvillon-Wise.