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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 107
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In Memory |
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of |
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Mildred Elizabeth Smith Barton |
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WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Mildred Elizabeth Smith Barton of Beaumont on June 17, |
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2017, at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Beaumont on February 23, 1933, the former |
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Mildred Smith was the daughter of Ural Bonnette and Buck Smith; a |
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gifted musician, she became the organist at Magnolia Avenue |
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Baptist Church at a very early age; she graduated from French |
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High School and Lamar University, earning a bachelor's degree in |
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music, and went on to complete a master's degree in music theory |
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at the University of Houston; while still in college, she had the |
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honor of being invited to play a reception at the Governor's |
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Mansion in Austin, a memory that she long cherished; and |
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WHEREAS, Admired for her skill as an arranger, Mrs. Barton |
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also had the uncommon ability to play any song in any key and |
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could even play new pieces after hearing them just once; she |
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taught music and choir for a number of years at Amelia Elementary |
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and Forest Park High Schools, where her choir groups earned |
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accolades in University Interscholastic League competitions at |
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the local and state levels; she later received certification in |
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counseling from McNeese State University and worked as a |
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counselor and registrar at Forest Park High before retiring from |
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a similar position at West Brook High School; highly esteemed by |
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her students, she stayed in contact with many of them even after |
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the end of her career in education; and |
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WHEREAS, While working at Amelia Elementary, she met her |
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future husband and the love of her life, fellow teacher Neal |
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Barton; they shared a rewarding marriage that spanned more than |
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five decades, and she took immense pride in their son, Neal; a |
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valued member of Westgate Memorial Baptist Church, Mrs. Barton |
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considered playing the organ for her congregation one of her |
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life's greatest joys; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Mildred Barton is deeply missed, |
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memories of her strong faith, her passion for her calling, and |
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her devotion to her family remain to comfort and inspire those |
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she leaves behind; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life |
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of Mildred Elizabeth Smith Barton and extend sincere sympathy to |
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all who mourn her passing; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this day, it do |
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so in memory of Mildred Barton. |
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Creighton, Hughes |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on August 7, 2017, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |