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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, A life lived with joy and purpose came to an untimely |
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| 6 | 7 | | end with the passing of Jana Graves Kennedy of Paris on May 20, |
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| 7 | 8 | | 2017, at the age of 54; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, The former Jana Graves was born to Faye and James |
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| 9 | 10 | | Graves on August 14, 1962, in Paris, where she grew up with her |
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| 10 | 11 | | sister, Jeri, and her brother, Russell; a member of the North Lamar |
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| 11 | 12 | | High School Class of 1980, she earned a track scholarship to attend |
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| 12 | 13 | | Texas A&M University and went on to complete a bachelor's degree in |
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| 13 | 14 | | elementary education; possessed of a kind disposition and a genuine |
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| 14 | 15 | | love of children, she made a positive difference in the lives of |
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| 15 | 16 | | countless young Texans during her many years as an elementary |
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| 16 | 17 | | school teacher in Texarkana and Paris; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, In 1985, she exchanged wedding vows with another |
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| 18 | 19 | | Paris native, Mike Kennedy, and after living in Texarkana for a |
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| 19 | 20 | | time, the couple returned to their hometown to be closer to their |
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| 20 | 21 | | families; over the years, they were blessed with three treasured |
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| 21 | 22 | | children, Kara, Cole, and Kyle; and |
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| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, A devout Christian, Ms. Kennedy exemplified the |
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| 23 | 24 | | ideals of her faith through her commitment to serving others; she |
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| 24 | 25 | | gave generously of her time and energy to the Angel Fund, a |
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| 25 | 26 | | Texarkana organization that provides support for cancer patients, |
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| 26 | 27 | | and she also volunteered with Watersprings Ranch, a charity |
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| 27 | 28 | | operating residential group homes for children in need; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Although Jana Kennedy is deeply missed, memories of |
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| 29 | 30 | | her beautiful smile and her warm and caring ways remain to comfort |
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| 30 | 31 | | and inspire all those who were privileged to share in the richness |
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| 31 | 32 | | of her life; now, therefore, be it |
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| 32 | 33 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 33 | 34 | | Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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| 34 | 35 | | Jana Graves Kennedy and extend heartfelt sympathy to her relatives |
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| 35 | 36 | | and many friends; and, be it further |
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| 36 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 37 | 38 | | prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 38 | 39 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jana |
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| 39 | 40 | | Kennedy. |
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