H.R. No. 24R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, The passing of Winnie Parker Coffee of Dallas on October 28, 2002, at the age of 99, has deeply saddened the family and many friends of this esteemed woman; and WHEREAS, A native of Texas, she was born on December 15, 1902, in Tenaha, and pursued her higher education at Mary Hardin-Baylor College; Mrs. Coffee shared her passion for speech and drama with students at high schools throughout East Texas before World War II intervened; and WHEREAS, Inspired by her brothers, who answered their nation's call to arms during the war, this noteworthy Texan joined the United Service Organizations (USO) in 1943, and she brought not only her patriotism but also her enthusiasm and good cheer, which made immeasurable contributions to the lives of others; after completing USO training at Columbia University, she was assigned to New Orleans and Tyler, where she served as a social director, a role that well suited this extrovert who immensely enjoyed singing, dancing, and socializing with people; following the war years, she began a new venture when she joined the staff of the Veterans' Testing Laboratory at Southern Methodist University; and WHEREAS, The former Winnie Parker and Roy C. Coffee began their journey as husband and wife in 1952, and the couple enjoyed a warm and fulfilling relationship until his passing in 1978; Mrs. Coffee was blessed with two sons, and as her family grew through the years, she took great pleasure in being a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother; and WHEREAS, During her marriage, Mrs. Coffee was supportive of her husband in his role as mayor of University Park from 1950 to 1970; together, the couple were staunch proponents of Christian education, donating 40-50 scholarships each year, particularly at Abilene Christian University, where today the Winnie and Roy Coffee Communications Center honors their exceptional support of the institution, as well as Mrs. Coffee's heartfelt enthusiasm for drama and speech; and WHEREAS, This lovely lady remained an active congregant of Preston Road Church of Christ and enjoyed her memberships with the Highland Park Book Club, the Wednesday Morning Chorale Club, the Music and Drama Club, the Butchart Garden Club, and the Dallas Country Club; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Coffee's charm and vivacious personality delighted her large circle of admirers and drew new friends to her throughout her lifetime; fondly remembered by her loved ones as the "life of the party" well into her 90s, she continued a busy schedule and even kept her driver's license renewed until the age of 96; and WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to know Winnie Coffee will long miss her zest for life and generous spirit, and her memory will surely live on in the minds and hearts of the many people whose lives she touched; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Winnie Parker Coffee and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her sons, Roy C. Coffee, Jr., and Robert F. Coffee; to her four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and to all those who mourn the passing of this beloved 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 Winnie Parker Coffee. Goolsby Craddick Giddings Merritt Allen Goodman Miller Alonzo Goolsby Moreno of Harris Bailey Griggs Moreno of El Paso Baxter Grusendorf Morrison Berman Guillen Mowery Bohac Gutierrez Naishtat Bonnen Haggerty Nixon Branch Hamilton Noriega Brown of Kaufman Hamric Oliveira Brown of Brazos Hardcastle Olivo Burnam Harper-Brown Paxton Callegari Hartnett Pena Campbell Heflin Phillips Canales Hegar Pickett Capelo Hilderbran Pitts Casteel Hill Puente Castro Hochberg Quintanilla Chavez Hodge Rangel Chisum Homer Raymond Christian Hope Reyna Coleman Hopson Riddle Cook of Navarro Howard Ritter Cook of Colorado Hughes Rodriguez Corte Hunter Rose Crabb Hupp Seaman Crownover Isett Smith of Tarrant Davis of Harris Jones of Lubbock Smith of Harris Davis of Dallas Jones of Bexar Smithee Dawson Jones of Dallas Solis Delisi Keel Solomons Denny Keffer of Dallas Stick Deshotel Keffer of Eastland Swinford Driver King Talton Dukes Kolkhorst Taylor Dunnam Krusee Telford Dutton Kuempel Thompson Edwards Laney Truitt Eiland Laubenberg Turner Eissler Lewis Uresti Elkins Luna Van Arsdale Ellis Mabry Villarreal Farabee Madden West Farrar Marchant Wilson Flores Martinez Fischer Wise Flynn McCall Wohlgemuth Gallego McClendon Wolens Garza McReynolds Wong Gattis Menendez Woolley Geren Mercer Zedler ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 24 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on February 24, 2003. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House