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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, An exemplary life devoted to public service drew to |
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| 6 | 7 | | a close with the death of former Nacogdoches County judge Ocie Lee |
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| 7 | 8 | | Westmoreland on August 15, 2020, at the age of 89; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Descended from one of the original 300 families who |
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| 9 | 10 | | came to Texas with Stephen F. Austin, Ocie Westmoreland was born in |
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| 10 | 11 | | Nacogdoches on November 14, 1930, to Charlie and Bessie |
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| 11 | 12 | | Westmoreland and grew up with eight siblings, Oliver, Charles, |
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| 12 | 13 | | Robert, Ray, Roy, Jimmy, Bessie, and Ann; he took to the road at the |
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| 13 | 14 | | age of 14 and worked odd jobs, and he later graduated from Massey |
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| 14 | 15 | | Business College and attended Stephen F. Austin State University; |
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| 15 | 16 | | answering his nation's call to duty, he served with the Texas |
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| 16 | 17 | | National Guard; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, After working for a time as a long-haul trucker, |
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| 18 | 19 | | Mr. Westmoreland embarked on a career in public service, serving as |
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| 19 | 20 | | a firefighter and as a dispatcher for the Department of Public |
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| 20 | 21 | | Safety and the sheriff's department; he went on to contribute to his |
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| 21 | 22 | | community as a justice of the peace for 16 years, and he served |
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| 22 | 23 | | twice as Nacogdoches County judge, from 1979 to 1986 and again from |
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| 23 | 24 | | 1991 to 1998; during his tenure, he played a leading role in the |
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| 24 | 25 | | creation of the Nacogdoches County Court at Law as well as in the |
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| 25 | 26 | | planning and development of Lake Naconiche; and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Westmoreland was also active as a Shriner and a |
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| 27 | 28 | | Mason, holding the ranks of Master Mason and Royal Arch Mason for |
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| 28 | 29 | | more than half a century, and he was a longtime member of Landmark |
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| 29 | 30 | | Baptist Church; an avid sportsman when he was younger, he fished |
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| 30 | 31 | | every river in East Texas, and throughout his life, he loved to play |
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| 31 | 32 | | forty-two and dominoes; in retirement, he enjoyed setting the world |
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| 32 | 33 | | to rights with his friends at the Country Kitchen Café; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. Westmoreland delighted in the time he |
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| 34 | 35 | | spent at Hickory Hill Farm with his loved ones; he married Joyce |
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| 35 | 36 | | Marie Barnes in 1960, creating a blended family with their sons, |
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| 36 | 37 | | Terry, Richard, Randal, and David, and later adding a daughter of |
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| 37 | 38 | | their own, Angela; with the passing years, he was further blessed |
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| 38 | 39 | | with 15 grandchildren, Joe, Brent, Mitchell, Tyler, Logan, Grant, |
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| 39 | 40 | | Forrest, Jamie, Madeline, Kesli, Kelli, Lauren, Kallie, Kori, and |
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| 40 | 41 | | the late Katy Westmoreland, and 11 great-grandchildren; and |
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| 41 | 42 | | WHEREAS, A devoted family man and an admired civic leader, |
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| 42 | 43 | | Ocie Westmoreland lived a rich and purposeful life dedicated to |
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| 43 | 44 | | making his community a better place, and he leaves behind a legacy |
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| 44 | 45 | | that will continue to inspire all those who knew and loved him; now, |
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| 45 | 46 | | therefore, be it |
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| 46 | 47 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 47 | 48 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Ocie Lee |
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| 48 | 49 | | Westmoreland and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and |
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| 49 | 50 | | friends; and, be it further |
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| 50 | 51 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 51 | 52 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 52 | 53 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ocie Lee |
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| 53 | 54 | | Westmoreland. |
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