| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
|
|
passing of Ruth Pierce Burton of Waxahachie on February 16, 2011, at |
|
|
the age of 95; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born to George William Pierce and Doreecie Elizabeth |
|
|
Pitts Pierce on February 3, 1916, in Ferris, the former Ruth Pierce |
|
|
was a descendant of Ellis County pioneer families, including the |
|
|
county's first postmaster; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, She was active in the Girl Scouts while growing up, |
|
|
earning the Golden Eaglet rank in 1928, and she graduated from |
|
|
Waxahachie High School five years later; joined in marriage in 1935 |
|
|
to Cecil Burton, she and her husband shared a rewarding marriage of |
|
|
57 years before Mr. Burton passed away; in 1968, the couple founded |
|
|
the popular Waxahachie Gingerbread Trail home tour, and in 2002 |
|
|
Mrs. Burton was officially designated "The Gingerbread Lady" by the |
|
|
city council; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mrs. Burton and her husband raised a daughter, |
|
|
Olivia, and through the years the family grew to include two |
|
|
granddaughters and three great-grandchildren; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Blessed with abundant talent, Mrs. Burton studied |
|
|
portraiture with Hungarian artist Dr. Julius Zsohar, among other |
|
|
teachers, held several one-woman shows, and was honored to see the |
|
|
portraits she completed of Willie Nelson and several educators be |
|
|
displayed in public venues; she sketched and painted extensively |
|
|
while traveling with her husband in the United States, Canada, |
|
|
Mexico, and Europe, and today her works are owned by individuals |
|
|
throughout the nation; evening-wear design was another of her |
|
|
specialities; her creations were popular with attendees of proms |
|
|
and weddings, and she also received a commission for a glamorous |
|
|
Miss America pageant gown; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, For 79 years, Mrs. Burton was a congregant of First |
|
|
United Methodist Church, where she attended the Fidelis Sunday |
|
|
school class; in addition, she was a founder and charter member of |
|
|
the Ellis County Historical Museum and Art Gallery, a life member of |
|
|
the Ellis County Art Association, and a member of the Daughters of |
|
|
the American Revolution and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas; |
|
|
her prominent role in a host of community endeavors was recognized |
|
|
with a number of honors, including her selection as the First Lady |
|
|
of Waxahachie in 1993 and her receipt of the Historic Preservation |
|
|
Leadership Award from Historic Waxahachie in 2004; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to her family, her art, and her |
|
|
community, this cherished woman made a meaningful difference in the |
|
|
lives of her loved ones and fellow citizens alike, and her |
|
|
contributions will be fondly remembered for years to come; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Ruth Pierce Burton |
|
|
and extend sincere condolences to the members of her family: to her |
|
|
daughter, Olivia Harrington, and her husband, Fred; to her |
|
|
granddaughters and their husbands, Angela and Bob Heck and Teenya |
|
|
and Alan Barnard; to her great-grandchildren, Daniel Barnard, |
|
|
Blaire Barnard, and Rachel Heck; and to her other relatives and |
|
|
friends; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
|
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ruth Pierce |
|
|
Burton. |
| |
|
|
Pitts |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 758 was unanimously adopted by a |
|
|
rising vote of the House on March 17, 2011. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |