By Hodge                                               H.R. No. 533

         75R9557 WMS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Clairette Vivian Ratcliff on March 2,

 1-2     1997, at the age of 84, has brought a great loss to the many

 1-3     friends and relatives of this esteemed woman; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Born on November 5, 1912, to Eli and Sibbie Ann

 1-5     Walker White, she pursued her higher education at Mary Allen

 1-6     College in Crockett, Texas, where she earned her associate's

 1-7     degree; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, On June 12, 1937, she was united in marriage with

 1-9     John Wesley Ratcliff, and the couple were blessed with six

1-10     children, each of whom benefited immeasurably from the joy she

1-11     brought to their home; and

1-12           WHEREAS, A staunch believer in the value of education, she

1-13     was a classroom teacher for 43 years, and she was an inspiring

1-14     source of guidance and knowledge to her many students; and

1-15           WHEREAS, She was deeply committed to helping others, and gave

1-16     freely of her time and energy to a number of worthy civic and

1-17     religious activities; and

1-18           WHEREAS, Clairette Vivian Ratcliff was a woman of rare

1-19     patience and generosity; although her warmth and wisdom are gone

1-20     from us now, her remarkable spirit will surely live on in the

1-21     hearts of the many people whose lives she touched during her time

1-22     on this earth; now, therefore, be it

1-23           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

1-24     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Clairette Vivian

 2-1     Ratcliff and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family:

 2-2     to her husband, Reverend John Wesley Ratcliff; to her children,

 2-3     Ruth Ratcliff, Elijah Ratcliff, Wesley Ratcliff, John Ratcliff, and

 2-4     Billy Ratcliff; to her 11 grandchildren and five

 2-5     great-grandchildren; and to the many other friends and relatives of

 2-6     this beloved lady; and, be it further

 2-7           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 2-8     prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas

 2-9     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

2-10     Clairette Vivian Ratcliff.