| 1 | 1 | | 89R24636 AMB-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Simmons H.R. No. 869 |
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| 7 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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| 9 | 9 | | passing of Malania Watson Butler of Houston on March 21, 2025, at |
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| 10 | 10 | | the age of 75; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Born on January 19, 1950, in the small town of |
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| 12 | 12 | | Ganado, the former Malania Watson was the daughter of Barbara |
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| 13 | 13 | | Overton and Lenard Watson; she grew up with the companionship of |
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| 14 | 14 | | seven siblings, Walter, Susan, Diane, Cynthia Faye, Veronica, |
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| 15 | 15 | | Jaqueline, and Waymon, and she devoted herself to her faith at an |
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| 16 | 16 | | early age as a member of True Light Baptist Church in Houston; while |
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| 17 | 17 | | attending Miller Junior Senior High School, she met James Edward |
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| 18 | 18 | | Middleton Jr., and the pair later married and raised two children, |
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| 19 | 19 | | James and Kim; after that marriage ended, she was fortunate enough |
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| 20 | 20 | | to find love again, and she wed James Junior Butler in August 2002 |
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| 21 | 21 | | and went on to share with him nearly 23 years; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Mrs. Butler worked as a sales representative at |
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| 23 | 23 | | Dillard's before later retiring as an accounting clerk for Sears; |
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| 24 | 24 | | she was an enthusiastic advocate for labor unions, and she attended |
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| 25 | 25 | | several AFL-CIO conventions; her lifelong commitment to service was |
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| 26 | 26 | | also evident in her volunteer work as a receptionist at Riceville |
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| 27 | 27 | | Mount Olive Baptist Church and in her involvement in various voter |
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| 28 | 28 | | registration drives, voter education sessions, and Get Out the Vote |
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| 29 | 29 | | rallies; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, In her leisure time, Mrs. Butler took pleasure in |
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| 31 | 31 | | shopping, dancing, and listening to music; above all else, she |
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| 32 | 32 | | cherished the time she spent with her family, which grew to include |
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| 33 | 33 | | three grandchildren, Kristie Jaye, Keisha, and Kimdrell, five |
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| 34 | 34 | | great-grandchildren, Karter, Phoenix, David, Olivia, and Priest, |
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| 35 | 35 | | and many nieces and nephews; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, Although she is deeply missed, the passage of time |
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| 37 | 37 | | will never diminish the joy and love that Malania Butler brought |
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| 38 | 38 | | into the lives of all who knew her; now, therefore, be it |
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| 39 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 40 | 40 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Malania Watson |
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| 41 | 41 | | Butler and extend heartfelt condolences to her family and friends; |
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| 42 | 42 | | and, be it further |
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| 43 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 44 | 44 | | prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 45 | 45 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Malania |
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| 46 | 46 | | Butler. |
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