| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 52 |
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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 full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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| 6 | 6 | | passing of Warren Thomas Stokes of Ozona on September 1, 2023, at |
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| 7 | 7 | | the age of 81; and |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, The son of W. T. "Dub" and Madeline Hughes Stokes, |
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| 9 | 9 | | Tommy Stokes was born in Odessa on May 8, 1942; he was a member of |
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| 10 | 10 | | the Class of 1960 at Ozona High School, and he graduated from Texas |
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| 11 | 11 | | Tech University with an accounting degree; while at Texas Tech, he |
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| 12 | 12 | | met his future wife, the former JoNel Epperson; the couple |
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| 13 | 13 | | exchanged wedding vows, going on to share a rewarding marriage that |
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| 14 | 14 | | spanned six decades; together, they raised three sons, Ken, John, |
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| 15 | 15 | | and Andy, and with the passing years, their treasured family grew to |
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| 16 | 16 | | include eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; |
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| 17 | 17 | | Mr. Stokes was a friend to many, and he especially enjoyed going |
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| 18 | 18 | | fishing with his loved ones; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Stokes served as the Crockett County tax |
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| 20 | 20 | | assessor-collector for many years; a man of diverse talents who had |
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| 21 | 21 | | learned the skill of cable tool drilling from his father, he also |
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| 22 | 22 | | made a name for himself as a water well driller; working alongside |
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| 23 | 23 | | his wife, he further distinguished himself in his agricultural |
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| 24 | 24 | | career; in 2016, Mr. and Mrs. Stokes were honored as the Edwards |
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| 25 | 25 | | County Conservation Ranchers of the Year; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Deeply dedicated to his family and his community, |
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| 27 | 27 | | Tommy Stokes earned the lasting respect and admiration of all who |
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| 28 | 28 | | were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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| 29 | 29 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 30 | 30 | | Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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| 31 | 31 | | of Warren Thomas Stokes and extend sincere condolences to the |
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| 32 | 32 | | members of his family: to his wife, JoNel Stokes; to his brother, |
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| 33 | 33 | | Sandy Stokes, and his wife, Vicki; to his sons, Ken Stokes and his |
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| 34 | 34 | | wife, Gay, John Tom Stokes and his wife, Codie, and Andy Stokes and |
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| 35 | 35 | | his wife, Rebecca; to his grandchildren, Justin Maldonado and his |
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| 36 | 36 | | wife, Cristi, James Stokes and his wife, Emily, Cheyene Bownds and |
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| 37 | 37 | | her husband, Chandler, Sol Stokes and his wife, Linda, Payton Bayer |
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| 38 | 38 | | and his wife, Shelby, Sierra Rowland and her husband, Gus, and Kali |
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| 39 | 39 | | and Greer Stokes; to his great-grandchildren, Ellum Maldonado, |
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| 40 | 40 | | Darcie Stokes, Cash and Channing Bownds, Whitley Bayer, and Walker |
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| 41 | 41 | | Rowland; and to his other relatives and 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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 44 | 44 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Tommy |
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| 45 | 45 | | Stokes. |
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| 46 | 46 | | Murr |
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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. 52 was unanimously adopted by a rising |
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| 50 | 50 | | vote of the House on November 1, 2023. |
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| 51 | 51 | | ______________________________ |
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| 52 | 52 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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