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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 597
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In Memory |
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of |
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Gay Ratliff |
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew |
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to a close with the passing of Martha Gay Kokernot Ratliff of |
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Austin on April 21, 2023, at the age of 80; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Rosemary Kibbe Breeden Kokernot |
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and Frederick David Kokernot Jr., the former Gay Kokernot was |
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born on November 2, 1942; during her early childhood, she lived |
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on her family's ranch in Gonzales County, and she later grew up in |
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Cuero, Victoria, and Austin; she attended The University of Texas |
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at Austin, where she pledged Kappa Alpha Theta; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Ratliff founded an interior design company, |
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and over the years, her work was featured in numerous national |
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publications; a dedicated champion for the arts and for historic |
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preservation, she played an instrumental role in restoring the |
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Paramount Theatre and establishing the Austin Lyric Opera; she |
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was also a member of the Texas Historical Commission, and she was |
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involved in the Texas Main Street Program; in addition, she gave |
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generously of her time and talents to the National Trust for |
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Historic Preservation, Preservation Austin, and Friends of the |
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Governor's Mansion; and |
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WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Mrs. Ratliff enjoyed the |
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love and support of her husband, Shannon Harrison Ratliff, with |
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whom she shared nearly six decades, and she took great pride in |
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their children, Shannon, Rosemary, and Claire, and their |
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grandchildren, Caroline and Shannon; she loved spending time |
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with friends and family, caring for her pets, and tending to her |
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garden; and |
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WHEREAS, Gay Ratliff lived a life that was rich in personal |
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and professional achievements, and she will forever be a source |
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of inspiration to those she leaves behind; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Martha Gay |
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Kokernot Ratliff and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of |
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her family: to her husband, Shannon Harrison Ratliff; to her |
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children, Shannon Harrison Ratliff II and his wife, Rémi, |
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Rosemary Kokernot Ratliff Harris and her husband, August, and |
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Claire Elizabeth Kokernot Ratliff; to her grandchildren, |
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Caroline Abbott Ratliff and Shannon Harrison Ratliff III; to her |
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sister, Joy Kokernot; and to her other relatives and many |
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friends; 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 |
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this day, it do so in memory of Gay Ratliff. |
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Eckhardt |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 16, 2023, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |