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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 John |
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Edward Softly of DeSoto, who passed away on March 30, 2015, at the |
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age of 71; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Ralph and Rose Ann Softly, John Softly was |
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born in Hearne on September 25, 1943; he attended Blackshire High |
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School, where he played football and basketball and sang in a |
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quartet; in 1964, he joined the United States Army, and he served |
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his country in the Vietnam War; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his discharge from the armed forces, |
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Mr. Softly returned to Texas and settled in Dallas; he was joined in |
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matrimony to Ermon L. Thompson, and they became the parents of a |
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daughter, Kendra; and |
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WHEREAS, Determined to continue his education, Mr. Softly |
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completed his bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Bishop |
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College; he worked for the Dallas County Sheriff's Department and |
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the district attorney's office, and he later became a special |
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investigator; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2007, Mr. Softly exchanged wedding vows with |
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Mattie P. Thomas, and they shared a rewarding marriage until his |
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passing; he was a valued member of Antioch Missionary Baptist |
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Church, and in his leisure, he enjoyed travel, sports, helping |
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veterans, and spending time with his treasured family; and |
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WHEREAS, John Softly achieved a purposeful life of faith and |
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service, and those who were blessed to share in his love and |
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affection will forever hold him close in their hearts; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of John Edward Softly and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Mattie P. Thomas; to his children, Kendra Diane Softly, |
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Sabrina Worthy and her husband, Andre, Terri Thomas, and Kevin |
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Thomas and his wife, Joy; to his grandchildren, Mason, Chad, |
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Airell, Steven, Tessa, Ayo, and Kayla; to his sister, Dr. Mary H. |
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Softly-Welch; to his brothers, the Reverend Robert G. Softly and |
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his wife, Josephine, and Charles Softly and his wife, Carolyn; and |
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to his many other relatives and 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 John Edward |
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Softly. |