| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 59 |
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| 2 | 2 | | In Memory |
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| 3 | 3 | | of |
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| 4 | 4 | | Willie Fae Atkinson |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the |
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| 6 | 6 | | citizens of Florence in mourning the loss of Willie Fae Atkinson, |
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| 7 | 7 | | who died July 2, 2021, at the age of 95; and |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, A Williamson County native, Willie Fae Reagor was |
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| 9 | 9 | | born in her family's home on January 30, 1926; she began her |
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| 10 | 10 | | education in Andice, Texas, and then transferred to Florence |
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| 11 | 11 | | schools when the Andice School House closed; and |
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| 12 | 12 | | WHEREAS, On May 25, 1945, Willie Fae married her lifelong |
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| 13 | 13 | | love, Tom Atkinson; his military career took them to Rhode Island |
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| 14 | 14 | | and Pennsylvania, and at the end of World War II, they relocated |
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| 15 | 15 | | to College Station, where Tom attended Texas A&M University and |
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| 16 | 16 | | Willie Fae worked as a telephone switchboard operator for Bryan |
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| 17 | 17 | | Field; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Upon Tom's graduation, the couple settled near |
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| 19 | 19 | | Florence and began raising livestock; they were blessed with four |
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| 20 | 20 | | children, and their 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren |
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| 21 | 21 | | enriched her life immeasurably; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Willie Fae took great joy in serving as a steward |
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| 23 | 23 | | of her cherished community; she was the first female to serve on |
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| 24 | 24 | | the Florence Independent School Board as a write-in candidate, |
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| 25 | 25 | | and she served in numerous leadership positions during her 70 |
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| 26 | 26 | | years as a congregant of the Florence Methodist Church; she |
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| 27 | 27 | | served as a Girl Scout leader and held several offices with the |
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| 28 | 28 | | Home Demonstration Club, and she was a delegate to the State Farm |
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| 29 | 29 | | Bureau Convention; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, She was a woman of many talents, and she passed on |
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| 31 | 31 | | her masterful skill as a seamstress to her daughters and |
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| 32 | 32 | | granddaughters; she touched the lives of many through her loving |
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| 33 | 33 | | spirit, and she enjoyed sharing the beautiful flowers and |
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| 34 | 34 | | vegetables from her gardens with her family and friends; she was |
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| 35 | 35 | | a treasured citizen, and she will long be remembered with respect |
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| 36 | 36 | | and admiration by all who were privileged to share in her life; |
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| 37 | 37 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th |
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| 39 | 39 | | Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby extend sincere |
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| 40 | 40 | | condolences to the bereaved family of Willie Fae Atkinson; and, |
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| 41 | 41 | | be it further |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 43 | 43 | | her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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| 44 | 44 | | Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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| 45 | 45 | | memory of Willie Fae Atkinson. |
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| 46 | 46 | | Buckingham |
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| 47 | 47 | | ________________________________ |
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| 48 | 48 | | President of the Senate |
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| 49 | 49 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 50 | 50 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 51 | 51 | | the Senate on September 2, 2021, |
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| 52 | 52 | | by a rising vote. |
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| 53 | 53 | | ________________________________ |
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| 54 | 54 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 55 | 55 | | ________________________________ |
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| 56 | 56 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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