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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of a respected businessman and a devoted |
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family man drew to a close with the passing of Vernon Ray Stewart of |
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Brazoria on November 12, 2018, at the age of 82; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Joseph Isaiah and Opal Virginia Stewart, |
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Vernon Stewart was born in Crockett on November 10, 1936; before he |
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was even a teenager, he began working in the grocery business, which |
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later became the focus of his career as an entrepreneur; he opened |
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his first grocery store in West Columbia, and after that venture |
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proved successful, he expanded the business by purchasing other |
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stores that were struggling; his Stewart's Food Stores chain |
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eventually included locations in Brazoria and Sweeny, where it has |
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established a reputation among residents for its quality meats; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Stewart shared more than six decades of marriage |
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with the love of his life, Joyce Stewart, whom he wed on June 14, |
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1957; together, they raised four children, Dwain, Donna, Alesia, |
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and Brenda; Mr. Stewart endeavored to instill in his children a |
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commitment to service, and he took joy in welcoming them into the |
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family business and continuing to develop the friendly rapport that |
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his store shared with its customers; in April 2018, the Stewart |
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family accepted a Philanthropist of the Year award from the |
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Community Foundation of Brazoria County, which recognized their |
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generosity in keeping their stores open and providing much-needed |
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supplies to their fellow residents after Hurricane Harvey swept |
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through the area; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Stewart loved his life in Brazoria, and in later |
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years, he enjoyed tending to his cattle at his ranch; above all |
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else, he treasured his family, and he inspired all who knew him with |
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his honesty, his kindness, and his can-do spirit; and |
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WHEREAS, Vernon Stewart lived a life that was rich in |
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personal and professional achievements, and he leaves behind a |
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legacy that will long be treasured; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Vernon Ray Stewart |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Joyce Stewart; to his children, Dwain Stewart and his wife, |
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Tina, Donna Stewart Fink and her husband, James, Alesia Stewart, |
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and Brenda Stewart Gregurek; to his 20 grandchildren, 20 |
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great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren; to his |
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siblings, Calvin Stewart and his wife, Maimie, Joyce Finley and her |
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husband, Kenneth, and Ronnie Stewart and his wife, Elizabeth; 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 Vernon |
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Stewart. |
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Bonnen of Brazoria |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 372 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 13, 2019. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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