| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 2277 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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| 6 | 6 | | a close with the passing of Martha Gay Kokernot Ratliff of Austin on |
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| 7 | 7 | | April 21, 2023, at the age of 80; and |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, The daughter of Rosemary Kibbe Breeden Kokernot and |
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| 9 | 9 | | Frederick David Kokernot Jr., the former Gay Kokernot was born on |
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| 10 | 10 | | November 2, 1942; during her early childhood, she lived on her |
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| 11 | 11 | | family's ranch in Gonzales County, and she later grew up in Cuero, |
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| 12 | 12 | | Victoria, and Austin; she attended The University of Texas at |
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| 13 | 13 | | Austin, where she pledged Kappa Alpha Theta; and |
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| 14 | 14 | | WHEREAS, Mrs. Ratliff founded an interior design company, |
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| 15 | 15 | | and over the years, her work was featured in numerous national |
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| 16 | 16 | | publications; a dedicated champion for the arts and for historic |
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| 17 | 17 | | preservation, she played an instrumental role in restoring the |
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| 18 | 18 | | Paramount Theatre and establishing the Austin Lyric Opera; she was |
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| 19 | 19 | | also a member of the Texas Historical Commission, and she was |
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| 20 | 20 | | involved in the Texas Main Street Program; in addition, she gave |
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| 21 | 21 | | generously of her time and talents to the National Trust for |
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| 22 | 22 | | Historic Preservation, Preservation Austin, and Friends of the |
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| 23 | 23 | | Governor's Mansion; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Mrs. Ratliff enjoyed the love |
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| 25 | 25 | | and support of her husband, Shannon Harrison Ratliff, with whom she |
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| 26 | 26 | | shared nearly six decades, and she took great pride in their |
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| 27 | 27 | | children, Shannon, Rosemary, and Claire, and their grandchildren, |
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| 28 | 28 | | Caroline and Shannon; she loved spending time with friends and |
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| 29 | 29 | | family, caring for her pets, and tending to her garden; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Gay Ratliff lived a life that was rich in personal |
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| 31 | 31 | | and professional achievements, and she will forever be a source of |
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| 32 | 32 | | inspiration to those she leaves behind; now, therefore, be it |
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| 33 | 33 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 34 | 34 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Martha Gay Kokernot |
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| 35 | 35 | | Ratliff and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of her family: |
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| 36 | 36 | | to her husband, Shannon Harrison Ratliff; to her children, Shannon |
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| 37 | 37 | | Harrison Ratliff II and his wife, Rémi, Rosemary Kokernot Ratliff |
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| 38 | 38 | | Harris and her husband, August, and Claire Elizabeth Kokernot |
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| 39 | 39 | | Ratliff; to her grandchildren, Caroline Abbott Ratliff and Shannon |
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| 40 | 40 | | Harrison Ratliff III; to her sister, Joy Kokernot; and to her other |
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| 41 | 41 | | relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 43 | 43 | | prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 44 | 44 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Gay |
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| 45 | 45 | | Ratliff. |
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| 46 | 46 | | Howard |
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| 47 | 47 | | ______________________________ |
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| 48 | 48 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 49 | 49 | | I certify that H.R. No. 2277 was unanimously adopted by a |
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| 50 | 50 | | rising vote of the House on May 29, 2023. |
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| 51 | 51 | | ______________________________ |
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| 52 | 52 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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