H.R. No. 1018
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Linda
Lelia Susan Moroney of Houston, an esteemed attorney and champion
of social justice, who passed away on April 19, 2021, at the age of
77; and
WHEREAS, Born in Washington, D.C., on May 27, 1943, "Muffie"
Moroney was the daughter of Jessie Robinson Moroney and Robert
Moroney; she grew up in Houston, but her character was also shaped
by frequent visits to her mother's family in then-rural Fort Bend
County; a proud graduate of St. John's School in Houston and
Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Virginia, she worked for the
National Security Agency before returning to Texas; she married
Clarence Renshaw II, and they became the parents of two treasured
sons, Robert and Justin; following a divorce, she enrolled in the
University of Houston Law Center and received her degree in 1982;
and
WHEREAS, After completing a clerkship with the 14th Court of
Appeals, Ms. Moroney worked for Vinson & Elkins and several other
Houston law firms; she went on to open a solo litigation practice
and later joined forces with her son, Justin, in the Renshaw firm;
benefiting the legal community, she served on the alumni board of
the University of Houston Law Center; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Moroney's knowledge of the law spurred her to
enter the political sphere in the fight for equity and social
progress; a cofounder of the River Oaks Area Democratic Women, she
served on its executive committee, and together with Sherrie Matula
and Diane Mosier, she launched an offshoot, the Sisters United
Alliance, to encourage more Texas women to vote; her wide circle of
friends included state and local civic leaders, many of whom she
also mentored; while energetically organizing and fundraising for
worthy causes, she further served on the board of Planned
Parenthood Gulf Coast and the alumni boards of St. John's School
and Randolph-Macon Woman's College; and
WHEREAS, Sustained by a strong faith, Ms. Moroney was an
active member of Christ Church Cathedral and served on the board of
the Episcopal Church Publishing Company; as a lay leader in the
Episcopal Diocese of Texas, she advocated for the power of the laity
and strove to advance inclusivity in the denomination and society
as a whole; her advocacy was always as gracious and respectful as it
was resolute, and in later years, she engaged increasingly in
interfaith dialogue, participating in women's groups and gaining
new friends from diverse backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Moroney was devoted to her family, which grew to
include two daughters-in-law, Alisha and Lynne, as well as four
grandchildren, Carrie, Beverly, Emerson, and Catherine; she looked
after not only her dog, Sweet, but also a coterie of feral cats; and
WHEREAS, Guided by deep compassion and an unyielding sense of
justice, Muffie Moroney made a positive difference in the world
around her, and she is deeply missed by all who were privileged to
share in her love and friendship; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Linda Lelia Susan
Moroney and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn her
passing; 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 Muffie
Moroney.
Morales Shaw
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1018 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 14, 2021.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House