H.R. No. 24
R 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