TITLE: In memory of Fred Elias Nayfa of Sweetwater.

SUMMARY: In memory of Fred Elias Nayfa of Sweetwater.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Sweetwater lost one of its most admired citizens with the passing of Fred Elias Nayfa on April 10, 2012, at the age of 94; and WHEREAS, The son of Elias and Almaz Nayfa, who immigrated from Lebanon, Mr. Nayfa was born in Greenville on August 30, 1917; he attended Oklahoma City University and met his future wife, Jo Farris, while he was a student there; they married in Gainesville on April 17, 1946, and the devoted couple later became the parents of three children, Nadine, Abe, and Jeanne; eventually, he knew the joy of becoming a proud grandfather as well; and WHEREAS, Mr. Nayfa served his country in the United States Navy during World War II as a storekeeper first class and radio operator; an entrepreneur, he owned a number of family enterprises, among them The Hub Store, The Fair Shop, and ENC Discount; he was also a sales representative for Nyco Products Company before his retirement in 1982; and WHEREAS, Active in Masonic Lodge No. 571, Mr. Nayfa served as a master and district deputy, and he was a member of the Chapter and Council, the Commandery, the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, and the Suez Shrine Temple, as well as a light-hearted group known as the Camel Herders; he served as director of the Suez Temple, and the organization honored him at a one-day ceremonial and Camel Herders party in 2002; in addition to his 65-year pin for his work in the Masons and a 50-year pin from Suez Shrine Temple, he received numerous other accolades, among them the Golden Trowel Award from Masonic Lodge No. 571 and the Excalibur Award from the Knights Templar of Sweetwater Commandery; and WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan further benefited his community as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans; moreover, he participated in the American Cancer Society cancer walk every year as a survivor; he gave generously of his talents as a longtime parishioner of First United Methodist Church, and he was a member of the Sunday school Open Door Class; in his leisure, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, and he was a talented golfer who scored a hole-in-one on four occasions; and WHEREAS, Although Fred Nayfa is deeply missed, he continues to hold a special place in the hearts of innumerable people, and memories of his kindness, faith, and dedication remain to comfort those he left behind; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Fred Elias Nayfa and extend sincere condolences to his loved ones; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Fred Elias Nayfa. King of Taylor Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 485 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on February 21, 2013. Chief Clerk of the House