H.R. No. 795 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Mrs. Johnnie Massey will celebrate her 99th birthday 1-2 on May 8, 1995, and to her many friends and relatives, this event 1-3 promises to be a truly joyous and memorable occasion; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Born John Alora Franklin in 1896, she was named for 1-5 her grandfather, who was determined to see his name passed on to a 1-6 member of the family's next generation; the youngest of seven 1-7 children, she grew up on her parents' farm in Goliad County and 1-8 developed a love of history at an early age, and she was encouraged 1-9 to pursue this interest by her parents and teachers; and 1-10 WHEREAS, When she was 15, she and her two sisters entered 1-11 Sabinal Christian College in Uvalde County; her years there marked 1-12 an important milestone in her life, and she was privileged to meet 1-13 several of the well-known preachers of the day; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Mrs. Massey also met her future husband, Ira Massey, 1-15 at the school, and after quickly discovering that they wanted to 1-16 spend the rest of their lives together, they exchanged wedding vows 1-17 on August 1, 1913; the Masseys enjoyed a deeply fulfilling union 1-18 that lasted 61 years until Mr. Massey's passing in 1974; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Massey both enjoyed rewarding careers 1-20 as educators, and they positively affected the lives of countless 1-21 youths in Blanco and Nueces counties and in various communities 1-22 throughout the Rio Grande Valley; and 1-23 WHEREAS, This remarkable lady capably managed the many 1-24 responsibilities of being a homemaker and a teacher, and she raised 2-1 six fine children in addition to helping with the family's farming 2-2 and ranching activities; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Over the years, her close-knit family has continued 2-4 to grow, and she now enjoys the company of 14 grandchildren and 18 2-5 great-grandchildren; blessed with many friendships, her extended 2-6 "family" also includes numerous residents of The Retirement and 2-7 Nursing Center Home in Austin, where she now makes her home; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Mrs. Massey has always made time in her busy day to 2-9 offer fellowship to others, and she is fondly regarded by all who 2-10 know her as an optimist whose unbridled enthusiasm for life 2-11 radiates from her eyes, her smile, her words, and her laughter; and 2-12 WHEREAS, The qualities that endear her to so many emanate 2-13 from a deep and abiding spiritual faith, and she always has given 2-14 freely of her time, talents, and energy to serve her religious 2-15 community; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Mrs. Massey is heir to a proud family heritage, a 2-17 reverence for which she has sought to instill in her children and 2-18 her many other relatives; her ancestors came to Virginia in the 2-19 1600s with the country's first colonists, and her maternal 2-20 grandfather risked his life to fight for Texas independence in 2-21 1836; and 2-22 WHEREAS, Throughout her lifetime, this gracious lady has 2-23 brought joy and happiness to the many people whose lives she has 2-24 touched; a much-admired member of her community, Mrs. Massey has 2-25 earned the special love and affection of all who are privileged to 2-26 know her; now, therefore, be it 2-27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-1 Legislature hereby honor Mrs. Johnnie Massey and extend warmest 3-2 congratulations to this lovely lady on the occasion of her 99th 3-3 birthday; and, be it further 3-4 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-5 prepared for Mrs. Massey as an expression of high regard by the 3-6 Texas House of Representatives.