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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life lived with joy and purpose came to an untimely |
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end with the passing of Jana Graves Kennedy of Paris on May 20, |
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2017, at the age of 54; and |
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WHEREAS, The former Jana Graves was born to Faye and James |
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Graves on August 14, 1962, in Paris, where she grew up with her |
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sister, Jeri, and her brother, Russell; a member of the North Lamar |
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High School Class of 1980, she earned a track scholarship to attend |
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Texas A&M University and went on to complete a bachelor's degree in |
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elementary education; possessed of a kind disposition and a genuine |
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love of children, she made a positive difference in the lives of |
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countless young Texans during her many years as an elementary |
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school teacher in Texarkana and Paris; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1985, she exchanged wedding vows with another |
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Paris native, Mike Kennedy, and after living in Texarkana for a |
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time, the couple returned to their hometown to be closer to their |
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families; over the years, they were blessed with three treasured |
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children, Kara, Cole, and Kyle; and |
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WHEREAS, A devout Christian, Ms. Kennedy exemplified the |
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ideals of her faith through her commitment to serving others; she |
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gave generously of her time and energy to the Angel Fund, a |
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Texarkana organization that provides support for cancer patients, |
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and she also volunteered with Watersprings Ranch, a charity |
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operating residential group homes for children in need; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Jana Kennedy is deeply missed, memories of |
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her beautiful smile and her warm and caring ways remain to comfort |
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and inspire all those who were privileged to share in the richness |
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of her life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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Jana Graves Kennedy and extend heartfelt sympathy to her relatives |
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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 her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jana |
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Kennedy. |
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VanDeaver |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 52 was unanimously adopted by a rising |
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vote of the House on August 15, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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