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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately express the shock and |
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profound sorrow felt by people across Texas and throughout the |
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nation at the tragic death of Athena Presley Monroe Strand of |
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Paradise on December 2, 2022, at the age of seven; and |
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WHEREAS, A precious little girl who was cherished by her |
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family and many friends, Athena Strand was born in Duncan, |
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Oklahoma, on May 23, 2015, to Jacob Strand and Maitlyn Gandy; her |
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circle of loved ones included her stepmother, Ashley Strand, and |
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her sisters, Rilyn, Yrsa, and Alice, as well as her grandparents and |
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great-grandparents and a host of other relatives who all adored |
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her; and |
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WHEREAS, Athena was in the first grade at Paradise Elementary |
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School, where she made friends effortlessly; she wore an |
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irrepressible smile to match her cheerful personality, and she |
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enjoyed dancing, singing, horseback riding, and accompanying her |
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father to Renaissance festivals; she also loved the color pink and |
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dreamed of growing up to be a Viking princess; and |
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WHEREAS, Athena Strand brought abundant joy to everyone |
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around her, and although her loss is immensely difficult to bear, |
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her memory will forever be treasured by all those who were fortunate |
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enough to share in the blessing of her life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of Athena Presley Monroe Strand and |
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extend deepest condolences to the members of her family: to her |
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parents, Maitlyn Gandy and Jacob Strand and his wife, Ashley; to her |
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sisters, Rilyn Dawn Gandy, Yrsa Liv Strand, and Alice Elizabeth |
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Strand; to her grandparents, Steven Kulbeth, Mark Strand, Shelly |
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and Daymon Crittenden, and Terry Stephens and his wife, Bridget; to |
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her great-grandparents, Doylene Thompson, Jackie Kulbeth, Eloise |
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Strand, and Jeannie Watson; to her aunts and uncles, Keeland |
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Kulbeth, Kaden Jones and her husband, Jerrad, Kayla Kaul and her |
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husband, Josh, Zachariah Strand and his wife, Heather, Elijah |
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Strand and his wife, Madison, Andrea Larrazolo, Isaiah Castillo, |
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Jacob Stevens, and Tyler and Christina; and to her other relatives |
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and friends and all those who join them in mourning her passing; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Athena Strand. |