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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Howard Ernest Beckendorff, esteemed descendant of |
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one of Katy's most distinguished families, passed away on April 12, |
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2007, at the age of 94; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Joseph and Martha Beckendorff on August 19, |
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1912, Howard Beckendorff grew up in Katy and attended the one-room |
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South Mayde School; he married the former Bertha Jeanette Matzke on |
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December 6, 1934, and they became the parents of four children, |
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Doris Fay, Lynn Alton, and twins Loyce Eileen and Joyce Aline; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Mr. Beckendorff was a farmer and rancher at |
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heart, he supported his family as an operator with Humble Oil and |
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Refining Company and maintained livestock on the side; after an |
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early retirement from the Exxon Company, he owned and operated a |
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slaughterhouse, where he made and sold smoked sausage; he |
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subsequently worked for Daniel Industries before retiring for good |
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some years later; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Beckendorff derived great pleasure from singing |
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and playing guitar in the Joyful Noise Makers, a musical group that |
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performed at nursing homes, and he remained active doing yard work |
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for local widows; a faithful member of the First United Methodist |
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Church of Katy, he served on the board of stewards for 10 years and |
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was often the first person to arrive on Sunday mornings to make |
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coffee; in addition to occasional fishing trips, he enjoyed reading |
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the Bible and newspaper daily; and |
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WHEREAS, Recognized as a lifetime member of the Katy FFA, |
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this beloved patriarch continued to reside on a section of the |
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family land until his death; he was especially proud of Beckendorff |
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Junior High School, named in honor of his grandfather, Robert |
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Beckendorff, who was instrumental in achieving early educational |
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milestones in Katy, and of the fact that two of his great-grandsons |
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attended the school in its inaugural year; and |
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WHEREAS, Howard Beckendorff will long be remembered for his |
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devotion to his family and friends, for his strong integrity and |
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work ethic, and for his passion for the Katy countryside; although |
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he will be deeply missed, his legacy will live on in the hearts of |
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all those who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Howard Ernest |
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Beckendorff and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his daughters, Doris Stanberry and her husband, Buddy, |
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Loyce Reese, and Joyce Baker; to his grandchildren, Teloa Pearman |
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and her husband, Jimmy, LaTonna Chevalier and her husband, Preston, |
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Tawanna Botter and her husband, Jimmy, Tyron Stanberry and his |
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wife, Dallas, Vonda Holmes, Darla Bingham and her husband, Billy, |
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Craig Baker and his wife, Kelly, Gayla Clements, and Brenda Baker; |
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to his 26 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren; |
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and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Howard |
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Ernest Beckendorff. |