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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 Malania Watson Butler of Houston on March 21, 2025, at |
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the age of 75; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on January 19, 1950, in the small town of |
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Ganado, the former Malania Watson was the daughter of Barbara |
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Overton and Lenard Watson; she grew up with the companionship of |
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seven siblings, Walter, Susan, Diane, Cynthia Faye, Veronica, |
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Jaqueline, and Waymon, and she devoted herself to her faith at an |
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early age as a member of True Light Baptist Church in Houston; while |
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attending Miller Junior Senior High School, she met James Edward |
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Middleton Jr., and the pair later married and raised two children, |
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James and Kim; after that marriage ended, she was fortunate enough |
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to find love again, and she wed James Junior Butler in August 2002 |
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and went on to share with him nearly 23 years; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Butler worked as a sales representative at |
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Dillard's before later retiring as an accounting clerk for Sears; |
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she was an enthusiastic advocate for labor unions, and she attended |
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several AFL-CIO conventions; her lifelong commitment to service was |
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also evident in her volunteer work as a receptionist at Riceville |
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Mount Olive Baptist Church and in her involvement in various voter |
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registration drives, voter education sessions, and Get Out the Vote |
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rallies; and |
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WHEREAS, In her leisure time, Mrs. Butler took pleasure in |
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shopping, dancing, and listening to music; above all else, she |
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cherished the time she spent with her family, which grew to include |
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three grandchildren, Kristie Jaye, Keisha, and Kimdrell, five |
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great-grandchildren, Karter, Phoenix, David, Olivia, and Priest, |
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and many nieces and nephews; and |
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WHEREAS, Although she is deeply missed, the passage of time |
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will never diminish the joy and love that Malania Butler brought |
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into the lives of all who knew her; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Malania Watson |
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Butler and extend heartfelt condolences to her family and friends; |
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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 Malania |
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Butler. |