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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Ester |
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Kay "Mimmy" Phillips of Garland, who passed away on February 25, |
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2009, at the age of 65; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Robert Preston and Mary J. Bryan, |
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the former Ester Kay Bryan was born on October 2, 1943, in Dallas, |
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and she grew up in a cheerful home with her four siblings; she went |
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on to meet Steve R. Phillips, and they were united in marriage in |
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1961, with her father, a Baptist pastor, performing the ceremony; |
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the couple soon relocated to California, where they became the |
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parents of a son, Steven Scott, and a daughter, Tamara Kay; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips later returned to the Lone |
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Star State, and they welcomed their son, John Mark, in 1967, while |
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they were residing in San Antonio; when Mrs. Phillips discovered |
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that John Mark had been born deaf, she immediately learned sign |
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language, and it was she who taught the other members of her family |
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how to communicate via signs with John Mark; she later led songs in |
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sign language at Calvary Baptist Church, where she also taught |
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first grade Sunday school for 30 years; and |
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WHEREAS, A strong supporter of the Republican Party, |
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Mrs. Phillips participated in numerous precinct and senatorial |
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conventions; she knocked on doors, made countless phone calls, and |
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hung signs in behalf of Republican candidates at the local, state, |
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and national levels; moreover, she was an active member of Golden |
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Corridor Republican Women, and she was highly regarded by the group |
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for devoting her time and talents as its hospitality chair; |
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Mrs. Phillips further demonstrated her patriotism by hosting a |
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neighborhood Fourth of July parade, through which her fellow |
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residents came to appreciate her knack for entertaining; and |
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WHEREAS, A woman of strong faith and character, Mrs. Phillips |
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was known for serving others selflessly and for sharing her |
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positive attitude, her words of encouragement, and her bright smile |
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with everyone she met; in addition to her husband and three |
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children, Mrs. Phillips delighted in the company of her 13 |
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grandchildren, and she enjoyed taking them on summer vacations and |
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celebrating their birthdays; and |
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WHEREAS, A dedicated volunteer and a beloved matriarch, Kay |
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Phillips enhanced the lives of her relatives, friends, and |
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neighbors with her caring nature, and her memory will forever be |
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treasured in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know |
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her; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ester Kay Phillips and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her husband |
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of 47 years, Steve R. Phillips; to her sons, Steven Scott Phillips |
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and his wife, Diane, and John Mark Phillips and his wife, Saunia; to |
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her daughter, Tamara Kay McElwain, and her husband, Tom; to her |
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grandchildren, Amber Cannon-Edwards and her husband, Matt, |
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Ashleigh, Allison, and Amy McElwain, and Zachary, Danielle, Hope, |
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Alyssa, Brendan, Shane, Adrienne, Bethany, and Jason Phillips; to |
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her sisters, Sue Alexander and her husband, Deaun, and Carol |
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Whitley; to her brothers, Paul Bryan and his wife, Pat, and David |
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Bryan and his wife, Carol; and to her other relatives and friends; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ester Kay |
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Phillips. |