H.R. No. 1192
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family and friends will forever cherish their
memories of Thora Brigance Payne of Webster, who passed away on June
17, 2022, at the age of 97; and
WHEREAS, Born in Knott on June 16, 1925, to Theodore and May
Couch Brigance, the former Thora Brigance grew up with six
siblings, Jean, Edward, Vasta, Veda, Edith, and Nina; she graduated
in 1943 from Wellman High School, where she met the love of her
life, Vernon C. Payne; she attended Texas Tech University while he
was serving in the army, and upon being reunited, the couple wed on
September 15, 1945; during their 57 years of marriage, they raised
two children, Kippy and Doak, and their family later grew to include
a granddaughter, Kristy, and two great-grandchildren, Grayson and
Graham; and
WHEREAS, As newlyweds, Mrs. Payne and her husband moved to
Andrews, where he coached the high school basketball team and she
ran a children's clothing store, The Little Shop; she became
actively involved in her children's activities, volunteering as a
den mother, a Girl Scout troop leader, a Sunday school teacher, and
a tennis instructor; she was a woman of boundless energy, and
between shuttling her children to their golf and tennis
tournaments, she found time to cook gourmet meals and to hit a hole
in one on the golf course; and
WHEREAS, The family eventually moved to Waco when Mr. Payne
accepted a position with the Waco Independent School District;
there, Mrs. Payne served as an officer in both the Lake Waco Golf
Association and the Central Texas Women's Golf Association, and she
became a nursing home director at Hill Haven; she and Mr. Payne were
fond of playing bridge, hosting game nights with friends at their
home on Lake Waco, and tending to their beautiful garden together;
and
WHEREAS, Through her optimism and generosity of spirit, Thora
Payne brightened the world for all who were fortunate enough to know
her, and she will forever hold a treasured place in their hearts;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Thora Brigance
Payne and extend deepest sympathy to her loved ones; 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 Thora
Payne.
Paul
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1192 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 28, 2023.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House