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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, The State of Texas lost an admired advocate for |
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| 6 | 7 | | people with disabilities with the passing of Ruth Lorena Mason of |
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| 7 | 8 | | Houston on January 23, 2020, at the age of 53; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born in the Bayou City on January 31, 1966, the |
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| 9 | 10 | | former Ruth DeJohn was known to family and close friends as "Lore"; |
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| 10 | 11 | | she dedicated herself to improving the lives of children and adults |
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| 11 | 12 | | with disabilities, working tirelessly for better access to |
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| 12 | 13 | | education, health care, and employment support; during her career, |
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| 13 | 14 | | she was employed by Disability Rights Texas, and she went on to |
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| 14 | 15 | | share her expertise through leadership roles with numerous other |
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| 15 | 16 | | agencies and organizations, including the Texas Council for |
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| 16 | 17 | | Developmental Disabilities, Texas Parent to Parent, the Arc of |
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| 17 | 18 | | Texas, the Down Syndrome Association of Houston, and the Harris |
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| 18 | 19 | | Center; among other contributions, she frequently provided |
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| 19 | 20 | | valuable testimony at legislative hearings on disability issues; |
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| 20 | 21 | | and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Ms. Mason's work was informed by her own battle with |
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| 22 | 23 | | ALS; with the assistance of ocular technology, she was able to |
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| 23 | 24 | | communicate clearly using just her eyes, and she amazed her doctors |
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| 24 | 25 | | and other medical staff with her comprehensive knowledge of the |
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| 25 | 26 | | disease; she continued to champion the interests of people with |
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| 26 | 27 | | disabilities as her illness progressed; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, A woman of strong faith, Ms. Mason served on the |
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| 28 | 29 | | worship ministry team at her church, and she was a member of the |
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| 29 | 30 | | choir and band; she was also a leader of the children's choir, a |
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| 30 | 31 | | teacher in Mom's Day Out, and a regular participant in women's Bible |
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| 31 | 32 | | studies; moreover, she was instrumental in ministering to children |
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| 32 | 33 | | with disabilities and their families; in all her endeavors, she was |
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| 33 | 34 | | supported by the love and encouragement of her husband of 29 years, |
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| 34 | 35 | | Michael Mason, and her sons, William and Samuel; she is also |
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| 35 | 36 | | survived by her mother, Mary Ruth Cooper, and her siblings, Dave |
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| 36 | 37 | | DeJohn and Alice Janz; and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, Ruth Mason made a lasting, positive difference in |
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| 38 | 39 | | the lives of innumerable people through her unceasing endeavors in |
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| 39 | 40 | | behalf of people with disabilities, and although she is deeply |
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| 40 | 41 | | missed by those she left behind, they will forever treasure their |
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| 41 | 42 | | memories of her compassion, courage, and determination; now, |
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| 42 | 43 | | therefore, be it |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 44 | 45 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ruth Lorena Mason and |
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| 45 | 46 | | extend sincere condolences to all who mourn her passing; and, be it |
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| 46 | 47 | | further |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 49 | | prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 49 | 50 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ruth Mason. |
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