SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 938

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 
recognize Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Kelley, Sr., on the occasion of 
the dedication of the Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home 
chapel, which is being named in their honor on June 5, 2005; and

	WHEREAS, As the owners of the Kelley-Hixson Funeral Home in 
Beaumont, Charles and Doris Kelley served families throughout 
Southeast Texas with dignity and compassion and set high 
standards for integrity and professionalism; and

	WHEREAS, Charles Kelley was born in Detroit, grew up in 
Arkansas, and moved to San Antonio at the age of 20; after serving 
in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he was offered a 
position with the Hixson family of Lake Charles, Louisiana, to 
work in their funeral home with a promise that if he liked the 
business, they would buy another funeral home and make him a 
managing partner; and

	WHEREAS, Doris Weisiger was born in San Antonio and married 
Charles in 1942 in the First Baptist Church, where she was a 
secretary; after raising the couple's five children, she worked 
with her husband in the funeral business; and

	WHEREAS, The Hixson family bought Roberts Undertaking 
Company and the Pipkin-Brulin Funeral Home, merging two of 
Beaumont's finest funeral homes, and Charles was made managing 
partner of the Roberts and Pipkin-Brulin Funeral Home; it became 
Kelley-Hixson Funeral Home in 1962, and three years later, 
Charles became the sole owner; and

	WHEREAS, Throughout his years of funeral home service to 
the residents of the Golden Triangle, Charles demonstrated a 
compassionate and caring manner that brought solace to many, and 
his ingenuity and creativity in business earned him the respect 
of his peers; and

	WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Kelley retired in 1991 and sold their 
business to Frank Watkins, who then sold the business to the 
Claybar family of Orange, Texas; the Claybar family has continued 
the tradition of family-operated service; and

	WHEREAS, Charles and Doris were very involved members of 
the First Baptist Church in Beaumont for over a half century, and 
they were both active in numerous community organizations; they 
were exemplary residents of Southeast Texas and are now residents 
of New Orleans, Louisiana; and

	WHEREAS, The many contributions Charles and Doris Kelley 
made to the community and the example they set as owners of the 
Kelley-Hixson Funeral Home will long be remembered by the 
citizens of the Golden Triangle, and the dedication of the 
Charles S. Kelley Chapel is an excellent opportunity to honor 
this distinguished couple; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
79th Legislature, hereby commend Charles and Doris Kelley for 
their services to the citizens of Southeast Texas and extend to 
them best wishes for the future; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an 
expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
                                                                        Williams




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on May 18, 2005.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate