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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 admired educator Shirley Jane Sloan Hamm of Pittsburg on |
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March 7, 2017, at the age of 82; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Clarksville on June 19, 1934, she completed |
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both her bachelor's degree and her master's degree in library |
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science at East Texas State University; she married her high school |
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sweetheart, Harvey David Hamm, on August 15, 1954, and they became |
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the proud parents of two children, Harvey and Melinda; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Hamm taught English in Dallas and then in |
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Pittsburg schools, where she also served as a librarian; while |
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instilling a love of language in children, she demonstrated a |
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special understanding of those who struggled for acceptance and |
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made them feel included; many of her former students kept in touch |
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through the years, and the hundreds of valentines she received from |
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them were displayed seasonally in the windows of the shop owned by |
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her daughter and son-in-law; and |
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WHEREAS, In her retirement, Mrs. Hamm continued to share her |
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love of literature with her grandchildren, Jennifer, Michael, and |
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Mitchell, and her great-grandchildren, Josie, Kenlie, Kennady, |
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Kynslee, Noah, and Keyton; she had a Kindle full of books but often |
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visited the public library with her great-grandchildren in tow, and |
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in her last days, she made sure a dear friend returned three books |
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she had checked out; when not reading, she enjoyed traveling with |
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her husband as members of the Shriner's RV Club, and the couple |
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hosted legendary Christmas breakfasts for family and friends; in |
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addition, she liked to invite friends for tea, and she beautified |
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the world around her by painting, repairing antique furniture, |
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gardening, and arranging flowers; she played a key role in the |
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continuation of the Green Thumb Garden Club and its annual flower |
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show, and, having mastered the tricky Hogarth Curve design, she won |
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many awards for her arrangements; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to her family, friends, and students, |
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Shirley Hamm enriched the lives of innumerable people, and those |
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who were privileged to know her will forever treasure their |
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memories of her dry wit, frankness, and wisdom; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Shirley Jane Sloan |
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Hamm and extend sincere sympathy to all who mourn her passing; and, |
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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 Shirley |
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Hamm. |