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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Marlee Baker of Austin on May 19, 2012, at the age of 80; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Belton on September 30, 1931, Ms. Baker was |
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the daughter of Paul Bruce Baker and Lillie Lee Isleib Baker; she |
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graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School and earned her |
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bachelor's degree in music education at Southwestern University; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, She married Parker C. Folse, Jr., in July 1951, and |
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after moving to Austin, they became the parents of two sons, Paul |
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Gabriel and Parker; the marriage ended in 1957, and Ms. Baker worked |
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to support her children as an elementary school teacher, piano |
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soloist for the Austin Symphony Orchestra, writer for the Austin |
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American-Statesman, and travel agent; in addition, she served on |
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the staffs of numerous state legislators, first as a secretary and |
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then as an office manager; she was administrative assistant to |
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Barbara Jordan when she became a state senator and was executive |
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assistant to then-senator Charlie Wilson; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1971, she was joined in matrimony to Cater Joseph |
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and briefly stopped working, but she soon obtained her real estate |
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and broker's licenses; she established her own company and sold |
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commercial property, land, and homes for many years; when her son |
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Parker entered The University of Texas School of Law, she fulfilled |
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a long-deferred dream by gaining admission herself at the age of 49; |
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following a divorce, she practiced as a criminal defense attorney |
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in Austin for nearly a decade; and |
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WHEREAS, Retirement allowed this charming and multifaceted |
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Texan to pursue her host of interests, including music, movies, |
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politics, travel, and sports, particularly Longhorn football; a |
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voracious reader, she especially enjoyed biographies, histories, |
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and mystery novels; in addition, she adored animals and served on |
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the board of the Austin Humane Society; she was a kind and loyal |
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friend, and above all, a deeply devoted mother who encouraged and |
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supported her sons, making myriad sacrifices in their behalf and |
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avidly following their careers; in all her endeavors, she was |
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sustained by a great faith; and |
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WHEREAS, Those fortunate enough to have known Marlee Baker |
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will remember the way she touched their lives with her wisdom, |
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strength of character, and wonderful sense of humor, and she will |
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forever hold a treasured place in their hearts; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Marlee Baker and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of her family: to her |
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sons, Paul Gabriel Folse and Parker C. Folse III; to her |
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grandchildren, Alexis and Connor Folse; to her former husband, |
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Cater Joseph; and to her other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas House |
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of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Marlee |
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Baker. |