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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, An exemplary life devoted to public service drew to |
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a close with the death of former Nacogdoches County judge Ocie Lee |
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Westmoreland on August 15, 2020, at the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, Descended from one of the original 300 families who |
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came to Texas with Stephen F. Austin, Ocie Westmoreland was born in |
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Nacogdoches on November 14, 1930, to Charlie and Bessie |
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Westmoreland and grew up with eight siblings, Oliver, Charles, |
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Robert, Ray, Roy, Jimmy, Bessie, and Ann; he took to the road at the |
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age of 14 and worked odd jobs, and he later graduated from Massey |
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Business College and attended Stephen F. Austin State University; |
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answering his nation's call to duty, he served with the Texas |
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National Guard; and |
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WHEREAS, After working for a time as a long-haul trucker, |
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Mr. Westmoreland embarked on a career in public service, serving as |
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a firefighter and as a dispatcher for the Department of Public |
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Safety and the sheriff's department; he went on to contribute to his |
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community as a justice of the peace for 16 years, and he served |
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twice as Nacogdoches County judge, from 1979 to 1986 and again from |
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1991 to 1998; during his tenure, he played a leading role in the |
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creation of the Nacogdoches County Court at Law as well as in the |
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planning and development of Lake Naconiche; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Westmoreland was also active as a Shriner and a |
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Mason, holding the ranks of Master Mason and Royal Arch Mason for |
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more than half a century, and he was a longtime member of Landmark |
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Baptist Church; an avid sportsman when he was younger, he fished |
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every river in East Texas, and throughout his life, he loved to play |
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forty-two and dominoes; in retirement, he enjoyed setting the world |
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to rights with his friends at the Country Kitchen Café; and |
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WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. Westmoreland delighted in the time he |
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spent at Hickory Hill Farm with his loved ones; he married Joyce |
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Marie Barnes in 1960, creating a blended family with their sons, |
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Terry, Richard, Randal, and David, and later adding a daughter of |
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their own, Angela; with the passing years, he was further blessed |
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with 15 grandchildren, Joe, Brent, Mitchell, Tyler, Logan, Grant, |
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Forrest, Jamie, Madeline, Kesli, Kelli, Lauren, Kallie, Kori, and |
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the late Katy Westmoreland, and 11 great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man and an admired civic leader, |
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Ocie Westmoreland lived a rich and purposeful life dedicated to |
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making his community a better place, and he leaves behind a legacy |
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that will continue to inspire all those who knew and loved him; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Ocie Lee |
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Westmoreland and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and |
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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 Ocie Lee |
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Westmoreland. |