R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The recent passing of Cleon Thornton of Abilene on 1-2 April 24, 1997, at the age of 86, has brought a great loss to the 1-3 many friends and relatives of this esteemed woman; and 1-4 WHEREAS, A native Texan, she was born on March 7, 1911, in 1-5 Lone Oak to the Reverend William Gaddis Tankersley and Mary Lea 1-6 Pinegar Tankersley and pursued her higher education at Oklahoma 1-7 Baptist University and Oklahoma A & M; and 1-8 WHEREAS, On August 30, 1931, she married Shella Thornton and 1-9 they spent many happy years together before his passing in 1994; 1-10 and 1-11 WHEREAS, While much of her time was devoted to maintaining 1-12 the family's home, she was also a superb pianist, performing 1-13 regularly at the Templo Bautista in Abilene, and was active in the 1-14 Abilene Philharmonic; and 1-15 WHEREAS, In addition to her musical activities, Mrs. Thornton 1-16 was a volunteer at the Hendrick Medical Center and was a member of 1-17 the Abilene Women's Club and the First Baptist Church; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Cleon Thornton was a woman of rare compassion and 1-19 generosity, and although her warmth and wisdom are gone from us 1-20 now, her remarkable spirit will surely live on in the hearts of the 1-21 many people she touched during her time on this earth; now, 1-22 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 Cleon Thornton and 2-1 extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her 2-2 children, the Honorable Bill Thornton, Betty Crowe, and Shella 2-3 Massey; to her sisters, Frances Messer and Billie Jean Townes; to 2-4 her daughter-in-law, Carolyn Thornton; to her sons-in-law, John 2-5 Massey and John Crowe, Jr.; to her grandchildren, Julia Ann Bopp, 2-6 John Crowe III, David Thornton Crowe, Georgianna Lea Mullins, Sara 2-7 Burleson, Timothy Elliott Crowe, Rhetta Hogan, Joseph Edward Crowe, 2-8 Kate Thornton, and Ted Thornton; to her 22 great-grandchildren; and 2-9 to the many other friends and relatives of this beloved woman; and, 2-10 be it further 2-11 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-12 prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas 2-13 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 2-14 Cleon Thornton. Hunter Siebert _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 841 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 23, 1997. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House