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                                                                  H.R. No. 128



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The untimely passing of Teresa Ann "Terri" Kurkjian 
of Garland on March 15, 2003, at the age of 54, has deeply saddened 
her family and many friends; and
	WHEREAS, A native Texan, she was born on January 19, 1949; she 
earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Baylor 
University and went on to pursue graduate work in reading at East 
Texas State University; and
	WHEREAS, Mrs. Kurkjian had an abiding love for children and 
worked tirelessly in their behalf; she founded the Garland Home 
Childcare Association and Family Childcare Association of North 
Texas and wrote "I Am Not a Babysitter," a training manual for child 
care providers commissioned by the state, and "All Those Mouths to 
Feed," a nutritional booklet commissioned by the Save the Children 
program; on a personal level, this mother of three daughters, 
together with her husband, Charles, also opened her heart and home 
to children of all ages over the years who were in need of food and 
shelter, whether for a night or for several months; and
	WHEREAS, In her quest to ensure quality child care for this 
vulnerable segment of the population, this dedicated individual 
trained hundreds of home child care providers statewide during her 
career with educational materials she developed, encouraging them 
to upgrade their skills and program offerings available to the 
children in their care; and
	WHEREAS, Throughout her lifetime, Mrs. Kurkjian shared her 
unwavering faith with others in the First Baptist Church of 
Garland, where she was a choir member, teacher, and women's retreat 
leader; in addition, she codirected the developmental committee for 
the YMCA of Sulphur Springs, served as a board member of Sulphur 
Springs Community Education, and was affiliated with the National 
Association for the Education of Young Children and its Dallas 
chapter; and
	WHEREAS, Terri Kurkjian's heartfelt efforts to benefit 
children greatly improved the lives of countless families 
throughout the Lone Star State, and she will surely be remembered 
with affection and admiration by all those who were privileged to 
know her; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of 
Teresa Ann "Terri" Kurkjian and extend sincere sympathy to the 
members of her family: to her husband, Charles "Charlie" Kurkjian; 
to her children, Christie, Debbie, and Katie Beth Kurkjian; to her 
parents, Jimmy and Nell Ross; to her brother and sister-in-law, 
Alan and Jois Ross; and to all those who mourn the passing of this 
remarkable woman; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of 
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Terri 
Kurkjian.

                                                                          Driver


                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 128 was unanimously adopted by a 
rising vote of the House on July 25, 2003.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House