H.R. No. 1160
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, All who shared in the life of Wanda Smith Center of
Cherokee were deeply saddened by her passing on March 3, 2021, at
the age of 70; and
WHEREAS, Born on July 31, 1950, in San Antonio, the former
Wanda Smith was the daughter of TJ and Loraine Smith, and she grew
up in Pearsall with the companionship of her three siblings, Tommy,
Steve, and Leanne; as a teenager, she moved with her family to Eagle
Lake, and she graduated from Eagle Lake High School in 1968 before
going on to attend Graceland College in Iowa; and
WHEREAS, In 1969, she was joined in matrimony to Samuel
Center, and the couple shared a fulfilling union that spanned more
than half a century; Ms. Center took great pride in her two
children, Brian and Leslie, and with the passing years, she had the
pleasure of seeing her family grow to include five grandchildren,
Riley, who preceded her in death, Mckinley, Gracyn, Kirby, and
Samantha; and
WHEREAS, Early in her marriage, Ms. Center worked for the
Eagle Lake Insurance Agency and as a night dispatcher for the City
of Eagle Lake Police Department; in 1982, she and her husband
purchased the Snack Center, where she provided delicious meals to
members of the community for many years; in addition, she was a
librarian at the Eula and David Wintermann Library for five years,
and she ultimately retired in 2004, after a decade as a purchaser
with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Texas Youth
Commission; and
WHEREAS, Above all else, Ms. Center was devoted to her
family, and she enjoyed spending time with her husband and
granddaughters, traveling with friends, hunting, and fishing; she
was also an avid quilter and made more than 100 quilts for her loved
ones; a woman of strong faith, she was a valued congregant of the
First Baptist Church of Cherokee, where she could often be found in
the nursery, singing in the choir, or lending a helping hand; and
WHEREAS, Wanda Center lived a full and generous life, and
those who held her dear will forever remember her with deep
admiration and affection; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Wanda Smith Center
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 Wanda
Center.
Murr
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1160 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 23, 2021.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House