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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost an admired advocate for |
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people with disabilities with the passing of Ruth Lorena Mason of |
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Houston on January 23, 2020, at the age of 53; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in the Bayou City on January 31, 1966, the |
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former Ruth DeJohn was known to family and close friends as "Lore"; |
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she dedicated herself to improving the lives of children and adults |
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with disabilities, working tirelessly for better access to |
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education, health care, and employment support; during her career, |
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she was employed by Disability Rights Texas, and she went on to |
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share her expertise through leadership roles with numerous other |
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agencies and organizations, including the Texas Council for |
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Developmental Disabilities, Texas Parent to Parent, the Arc of |
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Texas, the Down Syndrome Association of Houston, and the Harris |
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Center; among other contributions, she frequently provided |
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valuable testimony at legislative hearings on disability issues; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Mason's work was informed by her own battle with |
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ALS; with the assistance of ocular technology, she was able to |
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communicate clearly using just her eyes, and she amazed her doctors |
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and other medical staff with her comprehensive knowledge of the |
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disease; she continued to champion the interests of people with |
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disabilities as her illness progressed; and |
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WHEREAS, A woman of strong faith, Ms. Mason served on the |
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worship ministry team at her church, and she was a member of the |
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choir and band; she was also a leader of the children's choir, a |
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teacher in Mom's Day Out, and a regular participant in women's Bible |
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studies; moreover, she was instrumental in ministering to children |
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with disabilities and their families; in all her endeavors, she was |
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supported by the love and encouragement of her husband of 29 years, |
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Michael Mason, and her sons, William and Samuel; she is also |
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survived by her mother, Mary Ruth Cooper, and her siblings, Dave |
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DeJohn and Alice Janz; and |
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WHEREAS, Ruth Mason made a lasting, positive difference in |
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the lives of innumerable people through her unceasing endeavors in |
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behalf of people with disabilities, and although she is deeply |
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missed by those she left behind, they will forever treasure their |
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memories of her compassion, courage, and determination; 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 life of Ruth Lorena Mason and |
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extend sincere condolences to all who mourn her passing; and, be it |
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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 Ruth Mason. |
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Swanson |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1358 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 26, 2021. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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